Sri Lanka Women vs New Zealand Women: 1st ODI Ends in No Result Due to Rain

Image credits: BCCI

The highly anticipated 1st ODI between Sri Lanka Women and New Zealand Women came to an abrupt end due to rain, leaving fans disappointed and eager for more. The match, which was scheduled to take place in Napier, saw Sri Lanka Women bat first and score 147/5 in 36.4 overs before the rain intervened.

The Sri Lankan innings was marked by some impressive performances, including Harshitha Samarawickrama's 65 off 94 balls and Nilakshi de Silva's 17 off 33 balls. However, the New Zealand bowlers, led by Hannah Rowe's 0/32 in 8 overs, kept the Sri Lankan batswomen in check, preventing them from scoring big. The run-out of Nilakshi de Silva was a crucial moment in the match, as it halted Sri Lanka's momentum and gave New Zealand an opportunity to restrict their score.

Some of the key statistics from the match include:

• Harshitha Samarawickrama's strike rate of 69.15
• Nilakshi de Silva's boundary count of 1 six
• Hannah Rowe's economy rate of 4.00

The New Zealand Women's team, led by Suzie Bates, was looking to test their bench strength and expand their player pool ahead of the ODI World Cup in India. With the absence of regular skipper Sophie Devine and star all-rounder Amelia Kerr, the team was keen to get the best out of their inexperienced and younger players.

On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, was looking to get a hang of international cricket and play some games before the looming World Cup later this year. Despite not being at their best in international cricket of late, the team saw this series as an opportunity to surprise the New Zealanders and gain some valuable experience.

Some of the historical context surrounding this match includes:

1. The two teams have faced each other 12 times in ODIs, with New Zealand winning 8 matches and Sri Lanka winning 4
2. Sri Lanka's highest score against New Zealand in ODIs is 244/7, which they achieved in 2015
3. New Zealand's highest score against Sri Lanka in ODIs is 326/5, which they achieved in 2017

The match may have ended in no result, but it has set the stage for an exciting series between the two teams. With the remaining matches scheduled to take place in Nelson, fans can expect some thrilling cricket in the days to come.

In terms of key matchups, the series will see some interesting battles between the two teams. Some of the key players to watch out for include:

• Suzie Bates (New Zealand) vs Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
• Hannah Rowe (New Zealand) vs Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka)
• Nilakshi de Silva (Sri Lanka) vs Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)