Bowlers helped England defeat Sri Lanka easily

During England’s decisive five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games, Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets to lead the team. Nilakshi de Silva’s 25 was the finest single performance for the team, therefore Sri Lanka’s choice to bat first didn’t turn out as planned. After struggling to 106 for 9 in 20 overs, Sri Lanka, which England successfully chased down with 5 wickets and 17 balls remaining.

When starter Vishmi Gunaratne was caught leg before by Katherine Brunt on the opening pitch of the game, Sri Lanka’s problems started right away.

The going was as difficult for Captain Chamari Athapaththu as she and Hasini Perera gradually constructed, but they only made it as far as the sixth over when Perera was fired. As Athapaththu failed to last long after the PowerPlay and England continued to make inroads, Sri Lanka found it difficult to forge partnerships.

Freya Kemp, a medium pacer who is 17 years old, and Issy Wong, a rapid bowler who is 20 years old, both rocked Sri Lanka, making them struggle in addition to being troubled by the seasoned Ecclestone. Together, they picked up four wickets for Sri Lanka.

Both Sri Lanka’s batting and England’s start to the chase were shaky, but neither team had enough runs to pull off a robbery. Oshadi Ranasinghe’s picks for England’s openers, Danielle Wyatt in the second over and Sophie Dunkley in the fourth, both fell, but Natalie Sciver and Alice Capsey kept England rolling.

Sciver and Amy Jones were both bowled by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera in the span of two overs, but Capsey and Maia Bouchier made another partnership to seal the victory. England only needed two runs to win when Ranaweera dismissed Capsey for 44 and picked up her third wicket. Bouchier secured the victory with a four on the first ball of the 18th over.