Harshitha Samarawickrama enroute to her 66 © Getty
March 4
Rain plays spoilsport in first ODI

Harshitha Samarawickrama played a steady knock of 66 not out butrain had the final sayas the first ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was abandoned after 36.4 overs, with Sri Lanka at 147 for 5.

After being sent in to bat by Suzie Bates, Sri Lanka lost captain Chamari Athapaththu early to Bree Illing before a 45-run stand between Vishmi Gunaratne and Samarawickrama steadied them. But once Gunaratne was sent back by Jess Kerr in the 19th over, Sri Lanka slipped from 70/1 to 94/4.

Kavisha Dilhari (9) and Manudi Nanayakkara (5) fell cheaply to Bates and Illing even as Samarawickrama continued to hold one end up, adding 44 runs for the fifth wicket with Nilakshika Silva (17) before Eden Carson ran Silva out.

However, Samarawickrama's composed innings, her second ODI fifty, helped the visitors rebuild again before rain stopped play. After a lengthy wait, the match was called off.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 147/5 in 36.4 overs (Samarawickrama 66*; Illing 2-42) vs New Zealand - No result