England responded powerfully to their T20 series loss to Sri Lanka, overpowering the visitors with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory in the opening one-day international of their three-match series staged in Durham.
England’s bowlers demonstrated their skill by dismissing Sri Lanka for a meager 106 runs in just 30.2 overs. The Sri Lankan women’s team had a rough time dealing with the unrelenting English attack, struggling to create partnerships and produce a respectable total. This excellent bowling performance laid the stage for England’s comfortable victory.
Mahika Gaur (3-26) and Lauren Filer (3-27), two of the three ODI debutants in the side, shined with the ball, each taking three wickets, as did leg-spinner Sarah Glenn (3-20), collectively resulting to Sri Lanka’s dismissal for 106 in only 30.2 overs of their allocated 50.
A standout in England’s stunning performance was the young and talented Mahika Gaur, whose superb bowling made a huge impact on the game. Gaur’s early breakthroughs established the tone for the match as she rapidly removed both of Sri Lanka’s opening batters, Chamari Athapaththu and Anushka Sanjeewani, preventing them from making a meaningful impression on the scoreboard.
In response, England comfortably claimed victory in just 18 overs with seven wickets in hand. Tammy Beaumont led the assault for the hosts, top-scoring with 32 runs off 31 balls, including five boundaries. Following her lead, Lamb and Tammy Beaumont promptly reached a fifty-run partnership before the conclusion of the ninth over.
Although Beaumont departed soon after, edging Inoka Ranaweera’s first delivery to slip in the 11th over, and Lamb fell at mid-off while attempting to clear Oshadi Ranasinghe over the top, Bouchier confidently guided the hosts to a comprehensive victory just six balls later, sealing the win with a couple of well-placed cover drives to the boundary.
The final two games of the women’s ODI series between England and Sri Lanka are at Northampton on Tuesday and then Leicester on Thursday respectively.
