Women’s T20 Challenge Shashikala to use English willow bats

By BIPIN DANI

Former Sri Lanka Captain, Shashikala Siriwardene will play in the forthcoming Women’s T20 Challenge (also known as Women’s IPL) matches with two bats, ‘STAUNCH’, which are made from English willow G1, 2 and 3. 

“I have brought these two bats here and being the first to use them, I am really proud of it,” Shashikala told the Daily Mirror yesterday.  

Interestingly, Asanka Gurusinha, member of the 1996 World Cup winning team and former manager of the National Team did show interest in these bats and had enquired with the manufacturer what willow is used and where was it sourced from. “The bats are made in Sri Lanka in Kelanimulla. And right now, I am sourcing the English Willow from Victoria, Australia”, Sahan Dickmadugodage, the bat manufacturer, revealed yesterday.  “Shashikala Siriwardene decided to use our bats, to help create brand awareness for Sri Lanka’s first and only cricket bat manufacturer,” he added. 

Shashikala and Chamari Atapattu, are included in the Supernovas Team and their first match will be against Velocity Team on November 4. 

“The UK-based clefts (wood pieces) are kept at a certain temperature before bats are being hand-crafted,” Dickmadugodage added.