Sri Lanka rode on a superb all-round performance by captain Shashikala Siriwardene to annihilate South Africa by 88 runs in a play-off match and finish fifth in the ICC Women’s World Cup here at Barabati Stadium on Friday. With this win, Sri Lanka avenged their 110-run defeat in a Super Six match here two days ago.
Siriwardene, who missed the last match due to fever, led from the front, hitting a 65-ball 44 with six boundaries and bagging four wickets for 31 runs with her off-break bowling. The 28-year-old all-rounder from Colombo won the player of the match award.
Electing to bat, Sri Lanka hit up an imposing total of 244 for seven and then dismissed South Africa for 156 in 40.1 overs. After losing two wickets for 14 runs, Sri Lanka batted beautifully to set the platform for the emphatic victory.
Chamari Attapattu led the scoring with her fifth ODI half-century (52 off 106 balls, 5x4) and stitched together 84 runs in the fourth-wicket partnership with Siriwardene. Eshani Kaushalya and Deepika Rasangika swelled to total, contributing 43 runs apiece.
Chasing the stiff target, South Africa were in deep trouble, losing four wickets for 49 runs. Shandre Fritz and allrounder Dane van Niekerk tried to steadied the ship by putting on 52 runs for the fifth wicket.
But after Fritz was run out by Eshani Kaushalya, South Africa surrendered meekly, losing their last five wickets for 16 runs. Fritz, who hit back-to-back half-ceturies, faced 74 balls for her 54.
BRIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka 244-7 in 50 overs (Chamari Atapattu 52, Shashikala Siriwardene 44) beat South Africa 156-10 in 40.1 overs (Shandre Fritz 54, Shashikala Siriwardene 4-31).