SL Women banking on spin to combat Australia

Lanka de Silva, coach of the Sri Lanka Women’s team, said he will be banking on spinners, particularly left-arm spinners Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari, to lead the side’s attack in their upcoming ODI series against Australia Women, which starts from September 18. The teams are scheduled to play four ODIs and a T20 international, and three of the four ODIs will be counted for points in the ICC Women’s Championship.

Australia, who are leading the Championship table with 24 points, are one point away from gaining automatic qualification into next year’s Women’s World Cup. Sri Lanka, however, are placed at the bottom of the eight-team table with five points from 15 matches. While the top four teams gain direct entry into the World Cup, the bottom four teams will have to play the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier with six other regional qualifiers. The top four teams in the Qualifier will then advance to the World Cup.

“The Australian line-up has plenty of right-handers, and Inoka and Sugandika, our most experienced spinners in the side, should make it difficult for them,” de Silva said before the first ODI in Dambulla on Sunday. “We also have the off-breaks of Inoshi Priyadharshani and we are banking on the three of them to deliver.”

De Silva stated that unlike in the past, the team had prepared for the series well in advance. He said the emphasis during selection had been on picking specialists, and, …

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