COLOMBO — A promising start by Sri Lanka's batters was washed away by persistent rain, forcing their ICC Women's Championship ODI against New Zealand to be abandoned without a result at the P. Sara Oval on Saturday.
The hosts, having been put into bat, had navigated to a solid 94 for 2 in the 21st over when the skies opened up, halting play indefinitely. The match was officially called off hours later, with both teams sharing the spoils of a single point each in the crucial qualifying tournament for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup.
A Promising Foundation Laid
After a delayed start due to a damp outfield, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to field, hoping her bowlers could exploit any early moisture. The Sri Lankan opening pair of Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne, however, had other ideas. They started cautiously against the new-ball duo of Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr, seeing off the initial threat before beginning to accelerate.
The partnership was beginning to flourish, with both batters finding the boundary with increasing regularity. Just as Sri Lanka looked set for a commanding total, leg-spinner Amelia Kerr made the first breakthrough, trapping Gunaratne LBW for 28. The dismissal brought Harshitha Samarawickrama to the crease, who combined with her captain in a steadying partnership.
The duo had added 37 runs and were looking increasingly comfortable when the rain arrived. Athapaththu, the talismanic skipper, was unbeaten on a characteristically aggressive 38 off 42 balls, including six boundaries, and was poised to launch a full-scale assault in the coming overs.
Frustration for Both Camps
The abandonment was a bitter pill to swallow for both teams, each with clear objectives for the series. For Sri Lanka, this was a golden opportunity to secure valuable Super League points against a higher-ranked side on home soil. Their recent form, including a historic ODI series win over England last year, had injected a new sense of belief into the squad.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her disappointment after the match, stating, "We were building a very good platform. Vishmi and I started well, and Harshitha and I were building a good partnership. We were looking at a score around 250-260, which would have been very competitive."
For the White Ferns, the washout represents a missed chance to kickstart their campaign after a recent lean patch. The team is in a period of transition and is desperate for game time and positive results. New Zealand's stand-in captain, Sophie Devine, echoed the sentiment of frustration, "It's incredibly frustrating. You prepare so hard for these games, and to have the weather intervene is disappointing for everyone."
The Broader Context: ICC Women's Championship
This three-match series is part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women's Championship, the primary pathway for qualification to the 2025 Women's World Cup in India. The context adds a significant layer of importance to every point earned. With only the top five teams, plus hosts India, qualifying directly, every match is crucial.
The shared points leave the standings largely unchanged, but the lost opportunity for a win is what both teams will rue. The remaining matches in the series now carry even greater weight. Key storylines to watch include:
- Sri Lanka's Middle Order: Can they capitalize on the starts provided by the top order?
- New Zealand's Bowling Attack: How will their spinners adapt to the Colombo conditions?
- Captaincy Battle: The tactical duel between Athapaththu and Devine.
Looking Ahead to the Series
With the first game a complete write-off, all focus now shifts to the second ODI scheduled for Monday at the same venue. The weather forecast remains a concern, and both teams will be hoping for clearer skies and a full contest.
Sri Lanka will be buoyed by their strong start with the bat and will look to replicate that foundation. Their bowling attack, led by the experienced Inoka Ranaweera and Kavisha Dilhari, will be eager to test the New Zealand batting lineup, which has shown vulnerability in recent times.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will want to see more penetration from their bowlers in the powerplay. The performance of their all-rounders, particularly Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine, will be pivotal to their chances of securing a much-needed away series victory.
A Point Lost More Than Gained
In the end, the Colombo weather proved to be the ultimate winner. While both teams add a point to their tally, it feels like a case of two points lost rather than one gained. For the hosts, in particular, this was a match where they had seized the early initiative and were positioning themselves for a statement victory.
The abandonment serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of outdoor sport and the immense challenge faced by teams touring the subcontinent. As the puddles dried on the P. Sara Oval outfield, the lingering feeling was one of what might have been for a Sri Lankan side full of confidence and a New Zealand team desperate for a win.
The series is now effectively a two-match contest, with all the pressure mounting on the next encounter. Both camps will be analyzing the brief passage of play from this abandoned game, searching for any advantage they can carry forward as they aim to make their mark on the road to the 2025 World Cup.