31/08Result
1st T20I (D/N), Sri Lanka Women tour of England at Brighton, Aug 31 2023
ENG Women won by 12 runs (D/L)
Player of the Match
Alice CapseyEngland Women
31/08Result
1st T20I (D/N), Sri Lanka Women tour of England at Brighton, Aug 31 2023
ENG Women won by 12 runs (D/L)
Player of the Match
Alice CapseyEngland Women

END OF OVER:
6 | 17 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 55/2 (13 runs required, RR: 9.16)

  • Vishmi Gunaratne17 (16b)
  • Kate Cross2-0-22-0
  • Charlie Dean1-0-6-1

9.55pm So, that's the end of that. It's over to Chelmsford for a day game on Saturday, but before that, we'll be back with the men's T20I team at Old Trafford tomorrow. It's all go as we head into the autumn of the summer... so to speak. From Miller and Co. Goodnight!

Alice Capsey is player of the match: "Took a couple of balls to get used to the pace of the pitch, try to hit the pockets as hard as possible. The message has been clear from Heather and Lewie about how I go about my game. Giving me freedom to do it my way. I like going from series to series, focus then reset with different groups and gain energy from different people. Batting is my number one but want to turn into that full allrounder."

Chamari Athapaththu: "I'm a bit worried because we lost the game but looking forward to playing good cricket in the next two games. We tried our best, struggled to grip the ball in the wet conditions and cold weather. Have to adjust to these conditions. A few youngsters and a few seniors, hope we can play good games in the rest of the series."

Heather Knight: "Really pleased, tested our adaptability at the end, and Mahika was brilliant on debut, looking forward to Chelmsford. Had a quick chat with her before she came out, a good bowler, a bit different for us, exciting prospect, good to see her have some success. Giving opportunities, wanted Freya to play her natural game and she bombed a six over midwicket. A number of players to choose from, so tests you as captain as you get used to new players."

9.43pm So... that's the end of game one of this T20I series. England secure a 12-run win on DLS, that would surely have been a wider margin in a full-length game, but Sri Lanka fought gamely in their reduced chase and briefly gave their hosts cause for concern defending 68. But Mahika Gaur's maiden England wicket ended any real doubts despite de Silva's tonking.

Fundamentally though, the match was won by England's batting. Principally Danni Wyatt and Alice Capsey, and a hefty 17-over total of 186 for 4.

5.6
W
Cross to Silva, OUT, wide yorker, pace off, good finish, Cross can't quite gather, but mid-off swoops with a direct hit. It's all academic but the umpire is taking a look. Looks like the bat might be in the air as the bails come off. Sri Lanka's valiant chase finishes in a run-out

NND Silva run out 18 (10m 8b 3x4 0x6) SR: 225.00

5.5
3
Cross to Gunaratne, 3 runs, makes room to leg, flashed down to deep third, skids off the greasy outfield and Gaur makes good ground to save the four
5.5
1w
Cross to Gunaratne, 1 wide, bouncer, down the leg side... that'll help Sri Lanka's cause! Don't want one of those to race away for four...
5.4
1
Cross to Silva, 1 run, bouncer, pace off, swatted to the leg side, and that, barring no-balls, is the game
5.3
4
Cross to Silva, FOUR, gallops to the pitch, battered through the covers! Top boshing, and now it's just three sixes in a row required! The fifty is up
5.2
4
Cross to Silva, FOUR, four more! Width, crashed through point! It's still just within reach!
5.1
4
Cross to Silva, FOUR, energetic launch across the line as Cross serves up an offcutter, and Silva keeps Sri Lanka alive with a boundary through midwicket

So, all over bar the tonking here. Five sixes? It's not impossible. Here's Cross to guard against meltdowns

END OF OVER:
5 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 38/2 (30 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.60, RRR: 30.00)

  • Nilakshika Silva5 (3b)
  • Vishmi Gunaratne14 (15b)
  • Charlie Dean1-0-6-1
  • Mahika Gaur2-0-16-1
4.6
1
Dean to Silva, 1 run, lines up a flog to leg, Dean takes the pace off and the ball loops to the leg side after some loopy spin
4.5
2
Dean to Silva, 2 runs, cracked hard into the off-side, Dean gets half a hand on it
4.4
2
Dean to Silva, 2 runs, square-driven, out to deep point, Gibson tidies up
4.3
W
Dean to Perera, OUT, steps across her stumps for a slog-sweep, and pinned in front of middle! There will be a review, but this looked adjacent. Clearly pad first, and thumping leg stump. Sri Lanka's challenge is almost done you sense

GWHM Perera lbw b Dean 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

4.2
0
Dean to Perera, no run, tries to get to the pitch, inside-edges onto her pads
4.1
1
Dean to Gunaratne, 1 run, tight line outside off, clipped to the on-side

Charlie Dean into the attack

END OF OVER:
4 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 32/1 (36 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 18.00)

  • Vishmi Gunaratne13 (14b)
  • Mahika Gaur2-0-16-1
  • Danielle Gibson1-0-11-0

Her family seem quite chuffed too!

3.6
W
Gaur to Athapaththu, OUT, edged, gone, Gaur has her first England wicket! And it's the key scalp of Chamari! A flat flog across the line as Gaur hits the pitch, back of a length, hint of away swing, scuffs the edge, Jones does the rest! That's her night's work done, and what a way to finish it! Jones nearly made a mess of that, in fact

AMCJK Athapaththu c †Jones b Gaur 15 (19m 10b 2x4 1x6) SR: 150.00

Sri Lanka Women in England 2023 News

SL Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st32AMCJK AthapaththuRMVD Gunaratne
2nd1GWHM PereraRMVD Gunaratne
3rd22NND SilvaRMVD Gunaratne