Optimistic Sri Lanka set to host White Ferns for limited-overs series in June-July

New Zealand women will travel to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series which will form a part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-2025 cycle. Notably, the visiting team is currently third on the points table, while the Chamari Athapaththu-led side is seventh on the chart. The series will give Sri Lanka a great opportunity to jump to the second spot if they whitewash the tourists. 

Meanwhile, right after the ODI series, the two teams are going to play a T20I series, which is slated to begin on July 8. 

When it comes to the ODI series, all three matches will be played at Galle International Cricket Stadium. On the other hand, P. Sara Oval in Colombo will be hosting all three T20Is. Notably, the ODI series will be a perfect platform for the home side to move closer to the ultimate goal.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu jumped to top 10 in T20I player ranking

Courtesy of her sheer consistency in the shortest format of the game, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu moved to number nine in the ICC women’s T20I player ranking. In the home series against Bangladesh, Athapaththu contributed a total of 103 runs in three innings and helped her team win the series by 2-1. 

Her teammate Harshitha Samarawickrama also made giant strides on the ranking system, courtesy of her series-best 125 runs over the three matches against Bangladesh. It helped her improve 12 spots overall to a career-high rating at 27th place on the batting ranking.

Meanwhile, in the T20I series, Sri Lanka’s bowling unit looked at their very best as the left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera helped her improve five spots in the ranking chart.