Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, praised her team’s crucial five-wicket win against defending champions New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup. Nilakshi de Silva’s unbeaten 54 and Kaushani Nuthyangana’s 24 not out led Sri Lanka to victory by chasing down New Zealand’s 150/6 with one ball remaining, marking their first win in the tournament.
Athapaththu highlighted the significance of this win for Sri Lanka’s tournament prospects, emphasizing the team’s execution of their plans under pressure. She credited Nilakshi’s excellent performance and Kaushani’s valuable contribution despite not being in top form.
The victory was not only due to de Silva’s innings but also to Sri Lanka’s solid fielding that restricted New Zealand to 150/6. Kavisha Dilhari’s 2 for 35 and sharp fielding plays were instrumental in containing the White Ferns’ scoring.
Athapaththu acknowledged the team’s fielding improvement, attributing it to dedicated efforts over the past six months. She commended the fielding unit for a much-improved performance compared to previous struggles.
Despite New Zealand’s strong start, Sri Lanka’s bowlers, backed by key wickets, prevented the White Ferns from posting a higher total. Athapaththu’s 27 off 19 balls and a crucial partnership between de Silva and Nuthyangana secured Sri Lanka’s victory after a challenging chase.
While celebrating the win, Athapaththu stressed the need for consistency and continued execution of plans in upcoming matches. She highlighted the importance of maintaining performance levels and not getting complacent after defeating a top team like New Zealand.
The Sri Lankan captain also identified areas for team improvement, particularly in batting and bowling, emphasizing the need to address weaknesses despite the positive result.
