The Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team got their Women’s World Cup campaign in England off to a dismal start as they went down to the hosts by eight wickets in their 1st warm-up game last evening.

Sri Lanka skipper InokaRanaweera won the toss and chose to bat first at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield but unfortunately for the visitors, they could not get off the blocks as they lost wickets at regular intervals. NipuniHansika was the first to go in the 4th over and by the 15th over the Lankan lasses were struggling on 42/5.

ChamariAtapattu and PrasadiniWeerakkody looked to resurrect the innings somewhat with a 51 run partnership but with the dismissal of Weerakkody, the innings stuttered once again. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 155 in 47.2 overs.

Each of the 6 bowlers employed by English Skipper Heather Knight managed to add to the wickets column with Anya Schrubsole and Katherine Brunt picking up 5 wickets between them.

The English got their chase off to a great start as openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont putting on 66 runs for the 1st wicket at a run-a-ball pace. The pair were dismissed within 4 overs of each other but Sarah Taylor, who is making a comeback into the national setup after a prolonged break, guided the hosts home with a fluent 49*.