The Sri Lanka women's national cricket team represents Sri Lanka in international women's cricket. One of eight teams competing in the ICC Women's Championship (the highest level of the sport), the team is organised by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sri Lanka made its One Day International (ODI) debut in 1997, against the Netherlands, and later in the year participated in the 1997 World Cup in India. The team has since participated in every edition of the World Cup, with a fifth-place finish at the 2013 event being its best performance. At the World Twenty20, Sri Lanka has likewise played at every tournament, although the team has never progressed past the first round. Sri Lanka played in its first and only Test match to date in April 1998, defeating Pakistan.
Although Sri Lanka women only played its first recognized international match just over a decade ago, in 1997, it has already run up a fair tally of one-day internationals, appeared in several ICC Cricket World Cups, and even played in a Test, a form of women's cricket which is increasingly less common. It owes much to Gwen Herath - the former president of the WCA of Sri Lanka - for her administration in the days before the men's board took over in 2005. In 2007, the ICC's High Performance Manager, Richard Done, created a further improvement strategy for Sri Lankan women's cricket, including introducing a schools-based competition. The aim was to increase its performances at such tournaments as the Asia Cup - where it has regularly made the final - and the 2009 World Cup, although it failed to win a match.
Current squad
1. Rebeca Vandort
2. Eshani Kaushalya
3. Sharina Ravikumar
4. Dilani Manodara (Wk)
5. Sanduni Abeywickrama
6. Sripali Weerakkody
7. Nilakshi de Silva
8. Anushka Sanjeewani
9. Shashikala Siriwardene (Capt.)
10. Oshadi Ranasinghe
11. Inoka Ranaweera
12. Chamari Polgampola
13. Yasoda Mendis
14. Nipuni Hansika
15. Maduri Samuddika
16. Udeshika Prabodani
17. Chamari Atapattu
18. Lasanthi Madushani
19. Prasadini Weerakkody
20. Sugandika Kumari
21. Ama Kanchana
22. Chathurani Gunawardene
23. Hansima Karunaratne
24. Achini Kulasuriya
25. Harshitha Madavi
26. Imalka Mendis
27. Hasani Perera
Sri Lanka | |
Association | Sri Lanka Cricket |
ICC status | Associate member (1965) Full member (1981) |
ICC region | Asia |
Coach | Lanka de Silva |
Captain | Shashikala Siriwardene |
First Test | |
Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Colombo; 17 April 1998) | |
First ODI | |
Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands (Colombo; 25 November 1997) | |
First T20I | |
Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Taunton; 12 June 2009) | |
World Cup | |
Appearances | 5 (first in 1997) |
Best result | Fifth (2013) |
World Cup Qualifier | |
Appearances | 1 (first in 2011) |
Best result | Third (2011) |
World Twenty20 | |
Appearances | 4 (first in 2009) |
Best result | First round (2009, 2010, 2012,2014) |
World Twenty20 Qualifier | |
Appearances | 1 (first in 2013) |
Best result | Champion (2013) |
as of 25 November 2015 | |
History
1990s
Sri Lanka'sinternational debut came in 1997 with a three match ODI series against The Netherlands, which they lost 2–1. This was part of their preparation for the World Cup in Indiathe following month, in which they reached the quarter finals, losing to England. The following year they hosted a tour by Pakistan, winning the three ODIs as well as what was the first Test match for both countries. It remains Sri Lanka's sole Test match. The Netherlands toured Sri Lanka again in 1999, and this time the Sri Lankans were much more successful, winning all five ODIs.
2000s
Sri Lanka finished sixth in the 2000 World Cup, and their next international engagement was against Pakistan at home in 2002, winning all six ODIs. They also won all six ODIs in an away series against the West Indies the following year.
In 2004 they hosted the inaugural Women's Asia Cup, which was reduced to a series against India after the withdrawal of Pakistan. They lost the series. The following year they again finished sixth in the World Cup. In 2005/06, they visited Pakistan to take part in the second Asia Cup, finishing as runners up to India.
2010s
In 2014, allegations of sexual abuse by Sri Lanka officials surfaced. Some players were apparently compelled to perform sexual favours for the officials in order to earn and/or keep their place in the national team.
On 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka beat England in a pool match, which was a major upset in Women's ODI history. England are world's top ranked team and Sri Lanka is in underdog status, but this win gave a full of attention in World Cricket. Sri Lanka women next beat India women and finally they finished as fifth in the rankings.
Test cricket
· Highest team total: 305/9 declared v Pakistan, 17 April 1998 at Colts Cricket Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
· Highest individual score: 105 not out, Chamani Seneviratne v Pakistan, 17 April 1998 at Colts Cricket Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
· Best innings bowling: 5/31, Chamani Seneviratne v Pakistan, 17 April 1998 at Colts Cricket Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
· Best match bowling: 8/57, Rasanjali Silva v Pakistan, 17 April 1998 at Colts Cricket Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
ODI cricket
· Highest team total: 282/5 India, 5 February 2013 at cci, Mumbai, India
· Highest individual score: 111, Chamari Atapattu v Ireland, 28 April 2011 at P Sara Oval, Colombo, Sri Lanka
· Best innings bowling: 5/2, Suthershini Sivanantham v Pakistan, 22 January 2002 at Moors Sports Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
