NZ-W vs SL-W, 3rd ODI Review: Plimmer, Kerr conjure up comfortable win for home team

New Zealand Women (NZ-W) and Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) clashed with each other in the third and final ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson on Sunday, March 9. The home team won the toss and elected to bat first.

Skipper Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer began the innings on a steady note. They mixed caution with aggression and got the team to 45/0 after the 10 overs. Both the batters continued in the same vein before Bates was dismissed in the 22nd over for a well-made 53 runs off 69 balls. The partnership of 108 off 131 balls provided a strong foundation for the batters to come to potentially take the team total to a highly competitive one.

Emma McLeod (4 off 19) joined Plimmer but did not last long. Brooke Halliday (36 off 42) and Maddy Green (32 off 24) were the batters to follow next who combined with Plimmer to score 50+ run partnerships. Plimmer, during Green's partnership, reached her maiden international century off 113 balls. The 21-year-old's knock included eight fours and two sixes and by the time she got out for 112 off 120, the stage was set for the death-over onslaught.

NZ-W scored 49 runs off the last six overs to finish at 280/6. For SL-W, Sugandika Kumari was the best bowler who finished with figures of 3/70. Achini Kulasuriya, Chamari Athapaththu, and Sachini Nisansala were the other wicket-takers, taking one each.

The visitors got off to a poor start, losing their top order within the first 10 overs for just 23 runs. The 27-year-old right-armer, Jess Kerr, was the sole destroyer picking up all the three wickets to fall. From hereon, it was an uphill task for SL-W to challenge the opposition. Kavisha Dilhari (45 off 54), Nilakshika Silva (45 off 73), and Anushka Sanjeewani (23 off 34) were the only batters to save the face and they were fighting a losing battle in a practical sense.

Also Check: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 3rd WODI Full Scorecard & Updates

In the end, SL-W were bowled out off the last ball of the match for 182. Kerr (3/22) and Fran Jonas (3/40) were the standout bowlers. With this win, the home side won the series as well with a 2-0 margin.

Plimmer, for her stellar knock, was adjudged as the Player of the Match while Maddy Green was declared the Player of the Series for her 132 runs and one wicket.