Colombo, May 9, 2025
In the sixth match of the Women’s Tri-Nation Series 2025, South Africa Women delivered a commanding performance to defeat Sri Lanka Women by 76 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Despite being out of contention for the final, the Proteas showcased their depth and firepower, with standout contributions from Annerie Dercksen and Chloe Tryon, ending their campaign on a high note. Sri Lanka, already qualified for the final against India, struggled to match South Africa’s intensity, particularly in the field and during the chase.
Match Summary
South Africa Women won the toss and elected to bat first, capitalizing on the batting-friendly conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium, where the average first-innings score in the series hovered around 235. The Proteas posted a formidable 315/9 in 50 overs, driven by a maiden ODI century from Annerie Dercksen (104 off 84 balls) and a blistering 74 off 51 balls from Chloe Tryon. Sri Lanka, tasked with their highest-ever ODI chase, managed 239 all out in 42.5 overs, with Chamari Athapaththu’s 52 and Anushka Sanjeewani’s unbeaten 43 proving insufficient against South Africa’s bowling attack, led by Tryon’s sensational five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick.
South Africa Women Innings (315/9 in 50 overs)
South Africa’s innings began steadily with openers Laura Wolvaardt (24 off 36) and Tazmin Brits (36 off 48) putting on 68 runs for the first wicket. However, Sri Lanka’s 19-year-old off-spinner Dewmi Vihanga triggered a dramatic collapse, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/43 in 10 overs). Vihanga dismissed Brits (caught at slip), Wolvaardt (bowled), Miane Smit (caught at midwicket), Lara Goodall (caught at slip), and Sinalo Jafta (bowled), reducing South Africa to 127/6 by the 29th over.
Annerie Dercksen, batting at No. 7, turned the tide with a historic century, scoring 104 off 84 balls, including nine fours and five sixes. Her 112-run seventh-wicket partnership with Chloe Tryon (74 off 51, nine boundaries) off just 88 balls set a South African record for the seventh wicket in ODIs. Dercksen’s knock was the fastest century by a South African woman in ODIs and only the second ODI hundred by a batter at No. 7 or lower in women’s cricket. Tryon’s aggressive batting, combined with a late 66-run stand with Nadine de Klerk (23 off 18) in 30 balls, propelled South Africa past 300, finishing at 315/9. Vihanga’s fifer was the highlight for Sri Lanka, but their fielding faltered, with 6-7 dropped catches proving costly.
Sri Lanka Women Innings (239 all out in 42.5 overs)
Chasing 316, Sri Lanka needed a strong start, but South Africa’s bowlers, led by Chloe Tryon, kept the pressure on. Openers Vishmi Gunaratne (22 off 37) and Hasini Perera (30 off 25) provided a brisk 52/1 in 9.2 overs before Perera was dismissed by Tryon, caught by Dercksen. Captain Chamari Athapaththu (52 off 57) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (40 off 52) steadied the innings with a 68-run partnership, taking Sri Lanka to 120/2 after 24.1 overs. However, Ayabonga Khaka’s double-strike in the 30th over, removing Athapaththu and Samarawickrama, shifted momentum.
Tryon’s spell proved decisive, as she claimed a hat-trick in the 37th over, dismissing Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, and Malki Madara in consecutive deliveries. Her career-best figures of 5/34 in 8 overs dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order. Anushka Sanjeewani fought valiantly with an unbeaten 43 off 32 balls, but the hosts were bowled out for 239 in 42.5 overs, falling 76 runs short. Khaka (2/30) and Nadine de Klerk (1/44) supported Tryon, while South Africa’s fielding, marked by stunning catches, contrasted sharply with Sri Lanka’s lapses.
watch…..India W Beats SA W in a close thriller, leads 2-0
Key Performances
- Annerie Dercksen (South Africa): 104 off 84 balls (9×4, 5×6), her maiden ODI century, and the leading run-scorer in the series with 276 runs at an average of 92.00. Her knock was pivotal in South Africa’s recovery from 127/6.
- Chloe Tryon (South Africa): 74 off 51 balls (9×4) and 5/34, including a hat-trick, earning her Player of the Match honors. Her all-round performance was one of the finest in the series.
- Dewmi Vihanga (Sri Lanka): 5/43 in 10 overs, her first ODI five-wicket haul, making her the second-highest wicket-taker in the series with 9 wickets.
- Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka): 52 off 57 balls, a fighting half-century, but insufficient to anchor the chase.
Match Context and Impact
The Women’s Tri-Nation Series 2025, hosted in Colombo, served as crucial preparation for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India. South Africa, despite their elimination from the final after three earlier losses, demonstrated their batting depth and resilience. The match highlighted Dercksen’s emergence as a key batter, with her century and two prior fifties in the series, and Tryon’s all-round prowess. Sri Lanka, despite the loss, secured their place in the final against India Women on May 11, thanks to earlier wins against both India and South Africa.
The R. Premadasa Stadium’s pitch favored batters, but spinners like Vihanga and Tryon found assistance as the match progressed. Weather conditions, with a 40% chance of rain and high humidity (76%), tested player endurance, but the match was uninterrupted. South Africa’s fielding excellence, with several spectacular catches, contrasted with Sri Lanka’s dropped chances, which Laura Wolvaardt noted as a significant factor in their 300-plus total.
Post-Match Reactions
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa Captain): “Very nice to get a win in our last game of this series. It doesn’t happen that we score 300 runs two times in a row. It was a breakthrough season for Dercksen with the bat. We’ve learned about our squad’s depth and tried youngsters, which will help for the World Cup.”
- Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Captain): No specific comments from this match, but her team’s qualification for the final was confirmed, reflecting their competitive campaign.
- Chloe Tryon (Player of the Match): Her hat-trick and all-round performance were lauded, with teammate Dercksen’s century making history for South Africa.
Brief Scores
- South Africa Women: 315/9 in 50 overs (Annerie Dercksen 104, Chloe Tryon 74; Dewmi Vihanga 5/43)
- Sri Lanka Women: 239 all out in 42.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 52, Anushka Sanjeewani 43*; Chloe Tryon 5/34, Ayabonga Khaka 2/30)
- Result: South Africa Women won by 76 runs
Squads
- South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Lara Goodall, Miane Smit, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Seshnie Naidu, Ayabonga Khaka
- Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Manudi Nanayakkara, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani
Venue and Conditions
The R. Premadasa Stadium, known for its batting-friendly surface, saw 651 runs scored across 92.5 overs in this match. The pitch offered some turn for spinners, with Vihanga and Tryon exploiting it effectively. High humidity and a chance of rain were concerns, but the game proceeded without interruptions.
Conclusion
South Africa Women’s 76-run victory was a testament to their resilience and depth, with Dercksen and Tryon delivering performances that will boost their confidence ahead of the World Cup. Sri Lanka, despite the setback, will look to regroup for their final against India. The match underscored the competitive nature of the Tri-Nation Series, with South Africa’s consolation win highlighting their potential despite earlier struggles.
