Dottin Powers West Indies To Victory Over Sri Lanka

Dottin Powers West Indies To Victory Over Sri Lanka

Deandra Dottin thumped four sixes to help the West Indies beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in Dambulla

©ICC/Solaris Images

West Indies Women 165-6 (Dottin 43) beat
Sri Lanka Women 164-9 by four wickets
First One-Day International, Dambulla
Scorecard
Report by John Pennington

West Indies Women might have been comprehensively beaten in the World Cup final five days ago but they put that disappointment behind them with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International in Dambulla.

They were tested at times by Sri Lanka, who finished the World Cup in fifth, but eventually proved too strong for their ever-improving opponents.

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 164 for nine, struggling to build partnership and the West Indies, inspired by Deandra Dottin's 43 in 39 balls, reached their target with 12 overs to spare.

Dottin hit four sixes during her innings and the West Indies, having slipped to 76 for three, were revived by Kyshona Knight's 36 in addition to Dottin's belligerent knock.

Juliana Nero, who missed out on the World Cup final, had made 30 at the top of the order before two wickets apiece from Chamini Seneviratne and Shashikala Siriwardene put the tourists under some pressure.

Knight and Dottin's 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket ended Sri Lanka's hopes of getting back into the game and although both would fall, to Siriwardene and Inoka Ranaweera respectively, Kycia Knight's unbeaten 13 steered the new world number two-ranked side to a 1-0 series lead.

They had earlier undermined Sri Lanka's bid to set a more testing target with regular wickets. Shakera Selman was outstanding, returning figures of two for eight in her 10 overs, dismissing openers Chamari Polgampola (16) and Prasadani Weerakkody (13).

Sri Lanka were unable to accelerate, crawling to 39 for two after 15 overs while Chamari Atapattu's 27 occupied 72 balls. Deepika Rasangika's 28 in 38 balls gave the home side some impetus, but it was lost when Siriwadene (8), Sadamali Dolowatte (8), Eshani Kaushalya (2) and Seneviratne (1) all departed for single-figure scores.

Sripali Weerakkody and Dilani Manodara were able to give the innings a small boost with 21 and 14 not out respectively, but their efforts were to prove in vain.

Shemaine Campbelle also struck twice, returning two for 13 while there was a wicket apiece for Tremayne Smartt, Anisa Mohammed and Stafanie Taylor.

The second game in the three-match series is at the same venue on Sunday (24th February).

© Cricket World 2013