West Indies women’s World cup qualification dealt heavy blow

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (CMC):

WEST INDIES Women failed to overcome the absence of regular captain and leading all-rounder Hayley Matthews, as hosts Sri Lanka Women took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their ICC Women’s Championship One-day International series with a five-wicket win yesterday.

It was unclear why Matthews did not play, but in her absence, mystery spinner Kavisha Dilhari grabbed four for 20 from six overs, sending the Caribbean side tumbling to 92 all out in 31 overs after they chose to bat in the second ODI at the Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium.

The visitors made a couple early inroads, but an even, run-a-ball 50 from opener Vishmi Gunaratne and 28 from Dilhari for a 58-run, third-wicket stand led a successful run chase for the Sri Lankans, who finished on 93 for five in 21.2 overs.

The result meant it was the first series defeat for West Indies Women against the hosts in 16 years after they endured a six-wicket loss in the first ODI on Saturday at the same venue, where the third and final ODI of the series takes place on Friday.

“The team is obviously disappointed with the last two matches that we played, but we had a team chat right after [this match],” off-spinner Karishma Ramharack told CWI Media after play.

“We basically spoke about how important each of us is to this set-up and for us to find ways within ourselves to help the team win. Everyone holds themselves accountable and is looking forward to putting up a better fight in the remaining matches here.”

Championship

Significantly, the result was a huge setback for the Caribbean side in the Women’s Championship and their attempt to qualify directly for the ICC Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2025 India.

The top five teams in the Women’s Championship and hosts India automatically qualify for the World Cup – and the visitors have now slipped to eighth in the 10-team table on 14 points, while Sri Lanka have been catapulted to fifth on 18.

“I think there will be a lot of self-introspection,” Ramharack said. “We knew coming here how important these points were towards World Cup qualification next year…

“So I believe it is for us to put aside what has happened and going on to the next game with a bigger effort. We have what it takes to win games, but we have to keep believing in ourselves, and we’ll get there.”

West Indies ended the first Power Play at the end of the 10th over on 17 for two after Shabika Gajnabi was run out for a duck in the third over and stand-in captain Shemaine Campbelle was bowled for nine in the ninth over.

The Caribbean side were 63 for six at the halfway stage of the innings after four wickets – two to Dilhari, who can bowl either off-spin or leg-spin – including opener Rashada Williams, whose 24 was the top score, and former captain and stand-out all-rounder Stafanie Taylor, tumbled.

Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher played freely and scored 16 each, and they put on 28 for the seventh wicket to stem the fall of wickets, but there was little substance or stability from the rest of the batting and the innings subsided.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu ended with two for eight from two overs with her off-spin, and pacer Achini Kulasuriya finished with two for 16 from seven overs to assist with the demolition of the batting of the visitors.