Proteas Women take commanding win over Sri Lanka for first tri-series win

The Proteas Women left Sri Lanka with a conciliation victory in the Tri-series, bowling the home team out for 239 runs for their first win of the tournament. 

The Proteas put up a difficult 316 run target for the Sri Lankans to chase, and by the end, the home team fell short by 76 runs. It meant the South Africans would walk away with a victory after enduring a difficult series in Sri Lanka, losing a place in the final after their last match. 

The game against Sri Lanka was an opportunity for the ladies in Green and Gold to prove themselves worthy ahead of the World Cup this year. The Proteas found their stride with the bat and ball this time round, with a senior Proteas leading the charge. 

Returning from a serious back injury, Chloe Tryon showed why she is still first team with her stand out performance taking 5 wickets and scoring 76 runs. It was her first international tour since returning to the sport, with a few domestic games played hither thither. 

Tryon earned the player of the match award for the performance, which even clipsed Annerie Dercksen’s century [104/84]. Dercksen, however, has been the Proteas Women most consistent batsman this series, albeit their three straight losses. 

Dercksen and Tryon, together with the help of a few scattered batting performances, pushed the Proteas to a total of 315/9 after 50 overs, their highest score this series. 

The young Proteas, roped in from U19 side, cracked under pressure with the bat. Both Miane Smit and Seshnie Naidu didn't make any contributions with the bat but picked up a wicket each. Naidu earned her first international wicket in her first international ODI. 

The plus 300 target score left a mammoth task for the Sri Lankan batting line up, but their opening partnership looked to get off to a decent start. 

But Tryon carried the momentum she built with the bat, into the field and broke up the first wicket partnership with the wicket of Hasini Perera. She claimed her second wicket in the 14th over, removing Vishmi Gunaratn. 

The 31-year-old all rounder finished the innings with a destructive spell of 5/34 from her eight overs, pushing her team over the line. 

Ayabonga Khaka was the other wicket taker for the Proteas, claiming 2/30 from six overs. The Proteas bowled Sri Lanka out for 239 runs to take a commanding 76 run victory.