By Admin 
The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand here on Tuesday had to be canceled due to incessant rain, due to which both the teams got one point each.
The host team put up a strong batting performance and scored a challenging score of 258 runs for six wickets, but just before New Zealand started chasing the target, it rained at the R Premadasa Stadium and the match could not be restarted.
After the match, Atapattu said, “We played good cricket after assessing the conditions. Unfortunately we could not complete the match. The next match is very important. We have to win three matches. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain in our match. ,
Sri Lanka remains at seventh position with two points from four matches, while New Zealand is at fifth position in the table with three points.
This result is also a big blow for New Zealand which has already suffered two defeats and now the race for the semi-finals has become difficult for them. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said, “Unfortunately the weather did not allow us to play the match, we were excited to chase the target. Figures and numbers can be limited to this only. ,
This is the second match of the World Cup which was canceled due to rain. Earlier last week, Sri Lanka’s match against Australia was also canceled due to rain.
Earlier, after deciding to bat, Sri Lanka scored a challenging score of 258 runs for six wickets with the aggressive half-century of Nilakshika de Silva (55 not out) and the restrained half-century of captain Chamri Atapattu (53 runs).
Atapattu hit seven fours during his patiently played innings of 72 balls, while Nilakshika, on the other hand, scored the fastest half-century of the tournament, hitting seven fours and a six during her 28-ball innings.
Atapattu, along with young batsman Vishmi Gunaratne (42), laid a strong foundation by making a partnership of 101 runs. Hasini Perera also contributed 44 runs.
Atapattu made a brilliant start by hitting a brilliant cover drive on the very second ball of the innings and then showed his intentions by blasting the ball over extra cover.
Sri Lanka, looking for their first win of the tournament, decided to bat first and made a strategic change at the top of the order, sending 20-year-old Gunaratne in to open the innings with their captain, which paid off. Both took full advantage of the fielding restrictions in the powerplay and scored 52 runs without any loss in the first 10 overs.
The New Zealand players looked away from their fast fielding on the field and on several occasions missed the chances of dismissing and running out both the openers. His frustration increased further due to wrong fielding at times. But after the powerplay, he made a comeback working on his line.
Atapattu hit a four off Sophie Devine and then completed her 20th ODI half-century with two runs at midwicket, but Devine soon got the Sri Lankan captain caught out by Maddy Green at deep cover.
Gunaratne faced 83 balls and hit three fours. She tried to play openly but was bowled by Rosemary Mair.
Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (26) managed the innings by making a partnership of 58 runs, but just as Sri Lanka looked to be in a position to score runs quickly, New Zealand dismissed Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari (04) and Perera early, which again restricted the run rate.
Nilakshika played a brilliant inning which included three fours hit in the last over of Divine.