South Africa Women defeated Sri Lanka Women by 76 runs in the sixth match of the ODI Tri-Series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Annerie Dercksen hit her first-ever ODI hundred during South Africa’s final game of the women’s tri-series in Colombo. Although the team was already out of the final, her knock helped them seal a dominant win. Her century was also the fastest by a South African in women’s ODIs.
South Africa Fight Back After Collapse
South Africa collapsed to 85 for 5 after offspinner Dewmi Vihanga ripped through the top order. Then, Dercksen stepped in and calmed things down. She first built a slow stand with Nondumiso Shangase.
After that, she joined hands with Chloe Tryon. Together, they added 112 runs for the seventh wicket off only 88 balls. It was a record for South Africa in women’s ODIs. Tryon played aggressively, scoring 74 off 51 balls.
Late Fireworks Lift South Africa Past 300
Dercksen and Tryon laid the base. Then, Tryon and Nadine de Klerk added 66 more runs in just 30 balls. De Klerk remained unbeaten on 32 off 19 balls. As a result, South Africa ended with a strong total of over 300.
This was their fifth-highest total in all women's ODIs.
Sri Lanka Start Strong in Big Chase
In reply, Sri Lanka made a good start. Hasini Perera and Vishmi Gunaratne shared a 52-run stand. But then, Tryon broke through. She had Perera caught at cover and then dismissed Gunaratne shortly after.
Chamari Athapaththu entered and showed fight. She struck 10 runs in one over from Tryon, including a six. She and Harshitha Samarawickrama added 52 runs for the third wicket.
Naidu, Khaka Break Sri Lanka's Momentum
Seshnie Naidu, on debut, ended the stand. She got Samarawickrama out on the first ball of her over. Then, Khaka returned at the right time.
In the 30th over, Athapaththu edged her to cover. In her next over, Khaka bowled Nilakshika Silva. This left Sri Lanka with too much to do.
Tryon Seals Win With Hat-Trick
Even though Sri Lanka kept attacking, the required rate shot up. Then, Tryon closed the match in style with a hat-trick in the 42nd over.
First, de Klerk took a diving catch to dismiss Vihanga. Next, Sugandika Kumari fell to a catch at point. Then, Malki Madara edged the ball to wicketkeeper Jafta.
Dercksen’s Record-Breaking Knock
Dercksen became just the second woman to score an ODI century while batting at number 7 or lower. She had only scored her first fifty two matches ago. Now, she finished as the top run-scorer in the group stage.
She started her innings confidently, hitting her third ball for four over Vihanga’s head. From there, she kept attacking. She scored three sixes down the ground, including the one that brought up her century.
Annerie Dercksen played cuts, pulls, and even reverse-sweeps. She scored 77 runs of the 112-run stand with Tryon. Her performance could earn her a promotion in the batting order soon.
Vihanga’s Five-Wicket Haul Goes in Vain
Earlier, Vihanga starred with the ball. She took 5 wickets in her third ODI. She dismissed Brits, Wolvaardt, Smit, Goodall, and Jafta. At just 19 years old, she became the second-highest wicket-taker of the series behind Sneh Rana.
However, her brilliant spell could not stop South Africa. They eventually bowled Sri Lanka out for 239 in the 43rd over and won by 76 runs.