*SRILANKA WOMEN VS NEWZEALAND WOMEN 3rd T20I IN A T20 SERIES 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD-UP:*
Newzealand deserve a round of applause for the way they have conducted themselves this series. They are two up against Srilanka in an away series where the opposition has the supreme quality of Athapaththu in the ranking. Even though the games have been close and competitive, NZL have absolute blown Srilanka away. More than a physical blow, this is a psychological blow for the hosts and they would find it hard to get up from it. The third game of this series provides Newzealand with an opportunity to absolutely crush the Chamari led side and make a point.
*NZL PROBABLE XI:*
Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Bernadine Bezuidenhout (wk), Leigh Kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, and Fran Jonas
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, The New Zealand Women made a fantastic start with the ball. The bowling department looked sharp and restricted the Sri Lankan batting line up for a mere 118 runs, picking up 6 wickets. Lea Tahuhu was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 4 wickets for 21 runs. The medium pacer has been the backbone of this side and has found it relatively easy to send the Lankans packing. She would be an integral pick once again.
In total, she has scored 96 runs on this spin-friendly surface. She demonstrated her batting prowess by scoring 47 (47) and 52 (53). Additionally her performances show that she is capable of holding the crease and ensuring that her team crosses the target line. In her last 10 games, she has averaged 35. The Kiwis would be banking on her to get the job done and help NZL whitewash the Lankans.
*SL PROBABLE XI:*
Chamari Athapaththu(c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani(w), Kavisha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani
Kudos to the bowling lineup of Srilanka who took the game deep and did not let the Blackcaps win till the 19th over of the chase. The likes of Kumari, Prabhodani, Dilhari and Ranaweera will be trusted with the bowl in hand, again in order to get hold of a consolation victory.
Inoshi Fernando, the right-arm off-break spinner is in the early stages of her career. In the first T20I, she was the best bowler for Sri Lanka, picking up three wickets for 17 runs in her four overs. I’m excited to watch what she has to offer in a game where Srilanka would be desperately fighting for pride.
Athapaththu has an average of a mere 1 in her first two outings of this series and it’s a sad sight seeing her walk back for cheap scores. She has failed to deliver it when the pressure was maximum on her and would be eyeing a reversal of fortunes.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR NZL:*
Highest run getter- Suzie Bates/Melie Kerr
Highest wicket taker- Hannah Rowe/Tahuhu
*FOR SL:*
Highest run getter- Athapaththu
Highest wicket taker- Priyadharshani/Prabodani
*FOR THE GAME:*
SL W to get a consolation win