South Africa cruise past Sri Lanka after rain delay

Colombo hosted the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Sri Lanka 105-7 (20 overs): Gunaratne 34 (33), Mlaba 3-30

South Africa 125-0 (14.5 overs): Wolvaardt 60* (47), Brits 55* (42)

By ten wickets (DLS), South Africa won.

In a rain-shortened game in Colombo, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka to move up to second place in the women’s world cup standings.

The Proteas won their 20th overs match with a duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) adjusted target of 121 and captain Laura Wolvaardt hit a superb 60 from 47 balls.

Tazmin Brits and the classy right-hander hit the winning runs with a six to finish unbeaten on 55 from 42, matching their unbroken 125-run opening stand.

With their fourth straight victory, South Africa is one point ahead of Australia as they lead the world in terms of points.

A 20-over contest was scheduled to end in a fourth washout at R Premadasa Stadium after a lengthy downpour 12 overs in the match, but it was delayed due to the rain’s persistence.

Sri Lanka, which had been forced to leave, was up to 105-7, but never threatened to really challenge South Africa.

After a shy at the stumps struck her on the inside of the knee as she raced through for a quick single, Vishmi Gunaratne was forced to retire hurt, she was stretched off before the rain.

However, no serious harm was caused, and she arrived after the rain to set up the tournament’s hosts, scoring 34 from 33 balls.

Nonkululeko Mlaba, a left-arm spinner for South Africa, won with 2-18 before the rain.

When the game started with the floodlights on, the sky overhanging, and the expectation that rain would be inevitable, it was surprising Sri Lanka to choose to bat first.

Although they had a good beginning, Gunaratne had retired hurt, and Klaas had captured Chamari Athapaththu lbw and bowled Hasini Perera with a beauty.

It meant that they returned with only eight overs to bat after preparing to bat 50 overs in their innings.

South Africa would have had to undergo a major reshuffle if they had bowled first, but the Proteas were able to escape with some shoddy fielding, maintain Sri Lanka’s total at a low ball, and have the luxury of knowing what exactly they needed to do from ball one of their innings.

However, South Africa made the most of their advantage, and Wolvaardt and Brits’ return to form, both serving as the tournament’s skipper and her opening partner after back-to-back ducks, will be very welcome.

The drama of their victories against India and Bangladesh was unnecessary; instead, the Sri Lanka bowlers were thrashing, with their openers removing the frustration caused by the five-hour rain delay.