SL Women Edge WI Women by 10 Runs in Tense 1st ODI
SL Women Edge WI Women by 10 Runs in Tense 1st ODI.Sri Lanka Women vs West Indies Women, 1st ODI Highlights, Sri Lanka Women tour of West Indies 2026: SL Women edge WI Women by 10 runs in tense opener.
In a thrilling low-scoring encounter at the National Cricket Stadium in St George's, Grenada, on February 20, 2026, Sri Lanka Women secured a narrow 10-run victory over West Indies Women in the first ODI of the three-match series.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive 240 for 6 in their 50 overs after West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. In reply, West Indies fought hard but fell short at 230 all out in 49.4 overs, handing Sri Lanka a crucial win in the ICC Women's Championship context.
The match showcased disciplined batting from Sri Lanka's middle order and a stellar bowling performance led by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who claimed 4 wickets for 44 runs. Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with 3 for 49 as Sri Lanka's spinners strangled the West Indies chase in the middle and death overs. For West Indies, Stafanie Taylor top-scored with a resilient 66, supported by Jannillea Glasgow's fighting 50, but they couldn't overcome the required rate under pressure.
Sri Lanka's Innings: Solid Foundation and Late Surge
Sri Lanka openers Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu provided a steady start, but Athapaththu fell for 27 (37 balls) in the 12th over, caught off Hayley Matthews. Hasini Perera anchored the innings with a composed 61 off 86 balls, building key partnerships. Harshitha Samarawickrama played a pivotal knock of 66, accelerating in the middle overs before being stumped off Matthews.
Sri Lanka reached 135 for 2 by the 32nd over, but lost Perera (c Matthews b Alleyne) and then Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva in quick succession around the 42nd over, slipping to 185 for 4. Kavisha Dilhari (contribution in the lower middle) and Dewmi Vihanga (quick 14 off 6 in the final over) provided late impetus. Vihanga fell to Karishma Ramharack in the last ball, but Sri Lanka managed 240/6.
Key contributors for Sri Lanka included Samarawickrama's fluent 66 and Perera's patient 61. West Indies' bowlers, led by Matthews (2-46) and Ramharack (2-57), kept things tight, but couldn't prevent the total from reaching a defendable mark on a surface that assisted spin later.
West Indies Chase: Early Wobbles and Heroic Efforts
Chasing 241, West Indies lost Qiana Joseph early (c Athapaththu b Malki Madara) for a low score, followed quickly by captain Hayley Matthews (b Dewmi Vihanga) as they slumped to 28/2 in the 8th over. Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry departed soon after, leaving them 55/4 by the 16th over.
Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin steadied the ship briefly, but Dottin fell for a modest contribution. Taylor's 66 (patient yet effective) and a valuable 50 from Jannillea Glasgow kept West Indies in the hunt. At one stage, they required around 100 from the last 15 overs with wickets in hand.
However, Ranaweera's four-wicket haul dismantled the middle and lower order. Her variations and control in the middle overs proved decisive, picking up key scalps including Taylor. Dilhari's 3 wickets, including the stumping of Karishma Ramharack off the final ball, sealed the deal as West Indies crumbled to 230 all out with 2 balls remaining.
The chase highlighted West Indies' resilience but exposed vulnerabilities against quality spin. Glasgow's half-century was a bright spot, but the inability to rotate strike consistently in the death overs cost them dearly.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Player of the Match Contender: Inoka Ranaweera's 4/44 was instrumental in defending a modest total, earning praise for her experience and guile.
The match showcased disciplined batting from Sri Lanka's middle order and a stellar bowling performance led by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who claimed 4 wickets for 44 runs. Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with 3 for 49 as Sri Lanka's spinners strangled the West Indies chase in the middle and death overs. For West Indies, Stafanie Taylor top-scored with a resilient 66, supported by Jannillea Glasgow's fighting 50, but they couldn't overcome the required rate under pressure.
Sri Lanka's Innings: Solid Foundation and Late Surge
Sri Lanka openers Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu provided a steady start, but Athapaththu fell for 27 (37 balls) in the 12th over, caught off Hayley Matthews. Hasini Perera anchored the innings with a composed 61 off 86 balls, building key partnerships. Harshitha Samarawickrama played a pivotal knock of 66, accelerating in the middle overs before being stumped off Matthews.
Sri Lanka reached 135 for 2 by the 32nd over, but lost Perera (c Matthews b Alleyne) and then Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva in quick succession around the 42nd over, slipping to 185 for 4. Kavisha Dilhari (contribution in the lower middle) and Dewmi Vihanga (quick 14 off 6 in the final over) provided late impetus. Vihanga fell to Karishma Ramharack in the last ball, but Sri Lanka managed 240/6.
Key contributors for Sri Lanka included Samarawickrama's fluent 66 and Perera's patient 61. West Indies' bowlers, led by Matthews (2-46) and Ramharack (2-57), kept things tight, but couldn't prevent the total from reaching a defendable mark on a surface that assisted spin later.
West Indies Chase: Early Wobbles and Heroic Efforts
Chasing 241, West Indies lost Qiana Joseph early (c Athapaththu b Malki Madara) for a low score, followed quickly by captain Hayley Matthews (b Dewmi Vihanga) as they slumped to 28/2 in the 8th over. Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry departed soon after, leaving them 55/4 by the 16th over.
Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin steadied the ship briefly, but Dottin fell for a modest contribution. Taylor's 66 (patient yet effective) and a valuable 50 from Jannillea Glasgow kept West Indies in the hunt. At one stage, they required around 100 from the last 15 overs with wickets in hand.
However, Ranaweera's four-wicket haul dismantled the middle and lower order. Her variations and control in the middle overs proved decisive, picking up key scalps including Taylor. Dilhari's 3 wickets, including the stumping of Karishma Ramharack off the final ball, sealed the deal as West Indies crumbled to 230 all out with 2 balls remaining.
The chase highlighted West Indies' resilience but exposed vulnerabilities against quality spin. Glasgow's half-century was a bright spot, but the inability to rotate strike consistently in the death overs cost them dearly.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Player of the Match Contender: Inoka Ranaweera's 4/44 was instrumental in defending a modest total, earning praise for her experience and guile.
Harshitha Samarawickrama's 66 provided the platform for Sri Lanka.
Stafanie Taylor's 66 showed fight, but lacked support at crucial junctures.
The spinners' dominance: Sri Lanka's trio (Ranaweera, Dilhari, others) exploited the conditions effectively in the second innings.
Post-Match Reactions
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed satisfaction with the bowling unit's execution, noting the spinners' role in turning the game. She highlighted the importance of posting 240 on a tricky pitch and praised the team's composure under pressure.
West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews admitted the early wickets hurt momentum, but credited the fight shown by Taylor and Glasgow. She pointed to better execution with the ball and batting discipline as areas for improvement ahead of the second ODI.
Series Context
This result gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-match series (February 20, 22, and 25 at the same venue). As part of the ICC Women's Championship, the win boosts Sri Lanka's points tally significantly. The second ODI on February 22 promises another competitive clash, with West Indies looking to level the series on home soil.
The match was a testament to women's cricket's growing competitiveness, with tight margins, skillful spin bowling, and determined batting displays keeping fans engaged till the final over.
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