Harshitha smashes 66 in Napier washout

Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama plays a shot 

Harshitha Samarawickrama scored an unbeaten 66 and appeared to steady Sri Lanka’s effort before incessant rain forced a washout in the first Women’s ODI against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier yesterday.
Sri Lanka reached 147 for five in 36.4 overs of action after they were invited to bat first by the New Zealand Skipper Suzie Bates.
Sri Lanka slid from 70 for one to 94 for four but the game had nearly evened up courtesy Samarawickrama’s second fifty-plus score in ODIs.
The rain, though, meant no further play, and after a three-hour break, the umpires called off the contest.
Skipper Chamari Atapattu was the first batter dismissed, for a 21-ball nine with seamer Bree Illing striking with the new ball.
However, Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne, the other opener, then added 45 runs for the second wicket.
Jess Kerr ended the stand when Gunaratne edged one behind Polly Inglis in the 19th over, following which No. 4 Kavisha Dilhari and No. 5 Manudi Nanayakkara fell to Bates and Illing respectively.
A promising partnership of 44 for the fifth wicket ended when Eden Carson ran Nilakshika Silva out for 17. Samarawickrama, with her seven fours, held one end up amid the dismissals and reached her fifty in 83 balls. She had wicket-keeper Anushka Sanjeewani for company when the rain arrived.
The teams now move to Nelson for the next two games in the series. (Agencies)