SA v SL: Vishmi Gunaratne and Kavisha Dilhari’s Heroics Ensure Sri Lanka Level Series 1-1 Against South Africa

SA v SL: In a thrilling encounter in Potchefstroom, Sri Lanka managed to level the three-match series against South Africa with a spectacular seven-wicket victory, anchored by an impressive display from their young talents. The Proteas were missing their regular skipper Laura Wolvaardt owing to illness, so Nadine de Klerk stepped in as captain.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, South Africa were off to a solid start, thanks to the dynamic innings of Anneke Bosch, who filled in admirably for the absent Laura Wolvaardt. Bosch showcased her batting prowess with a quickfire 50 off just 32 deliveries, setting the stage for a formidable total.

Supported by Marizanne Kapp, the pair stitched together a promising 58-run partnership for the second wicket, propelling South Africa to a commanding position at 84 for 1 by the tenth over.

5️⃣0️⃣🆙

A well-crafted from Anneke Bosch to notch a half-century 👏#WozaNawe #BePartOfit #SAWvSRIW pic.twitter.com/SklsGLcZls

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 30, 2024

However, Sri Lanka’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu intervened with her crafty bowling, tightening the screws on the South African batting lineup. Athapaththu’s crucial wicket and economical spell of 1 for 18 off four overs applied pressure on the hosts.

Achini Kulasuriya further dented South Africa’s momentum, claiming 2 for 26, as the home side suffered a dramatic collapse, losing seven wickets for just 47 runs. The innings was marred by three unfortunate run-outs, adding to South Africa’s woes.

Despite a valiant effort from Nadine de Klerk, who remained unbeaten on 16, South Africa struggled to find stability beyond their top order, failing to capitalise on the strong start provided by Bosch and Kapp.

The debutant Karabo Meso touted as a promising talent at just 16 years old, endured a challenging outing, falling for a golden duck to Athapaththu’s bowling prowess.

Chasing a target of 138, Sri Lanka faced early setbacks with the dismissal of their captain Athapaththu, caught behind off Tumi Sekhukhune’s bowling. However, Vishmi Gunaratne rose to the occasion, showcasing maturity beyond her years with a sensational unbeaten knock.

Gunaratne’s resilient innings, comprising a sublime 65 off 57 deliveries, anchored Sri Lanka’s chase and laid the foundation for a memorable victory. Despite losing key wickets at regular intervals, Gunaratne found a reliable partner in Kavisha Dilhari, who played a crucial role in the match-winning partnership.

Dilhari’s unbeaten 45 off 28 balls provided the perfect complement to Gunaratne’s heroics, guiding Sri Lanka to a thrilling victory with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 76 runs off just 46 deliveries.

Sri Lanka’s triumph, marked by Gunaratne’s maiden T20I fifty and Dilhari’s composed innings, showcased the depth and resilience of their squad.

Sri Lanka registered a convincing win over South Africa in the second Women’s T20I of the three-match series played at Potchefstroom in South Africa. With this win, Sri Lanka managed to level the series, 1-1. #SAvSL #LionessesRoar pic.twitter.com/tkdDu58PbG

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 31, 2024

With the series now levelled at 1-1, both teams head into the decider with renewed confidence, setting the stage for an enthralling finale.

Match Summary- South Africa 137/8 in 20 overs (Anneke Bosch 50, Marizanne Kapp 44; Kulasuriya 2-26) lost to Sri Lanka 138/3 in 18.5 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 65, Kavisha Dilhari 45*, Tryon 1-14) by seven wickets.

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