SL bowlers steal slim win for 1-0 lead

Sri Lanka Women 101 for 7 (Siriwardene 28, Kapp 2-16) beat South Africa Women 94 for 6 (Lee 41, Lokusuriyage 2-11) by 7 runs
Scorecard

A 30-ball 41 from Lizelle Lee took the South Africa Women close to their target, but Sri Lanka Women prevailed in the rain-affected match to clinch a seven-run win. Sri Lanka scored 101 for 7 in 13 overs and their bowlers made sure South Africa were restricted to 94 for 6 to take a 1-0 series lead.

South Africa needed 49 from six overs with Lee and Mignon du Preez at the crease. But both fell within six deliveries, after hitting a four each, and the equation was down to 17 from 12, with six wickets in hand. However, Shashikala Siriwardene and Eshani Lokusuriyage conceded only four and five runs respectively in the last two overs and also picked up a wicket each to seal the win.

Sri Lanka chose to bat and saw useful contributions from four of the top five batsmen. Chamari Atapattu scored 20 off 15 and Siriwardene 28 off 25, followed by Hasini Perera's 12-ball 16. They lost four wickets in the last three overs but also managed 19 runs from them.

Lee was the anchor of South Africa's chase as she put on 42 for the second wicket with Dane van Niekerk to cross 50 in the seventh over. Du Preez and Lee were on track but Maduri Samuddika and Lokusuriyage spoilt their plans with economical bowling.