Sri Lanka Cricket's much-awaited awards night made a spectacular comeback on Monday, hosting the best cricketing performances of the 2024 calendar year. The event, which was staged annually for the first time since 2017, recognized outstanding contributions across both international and domestic circuits. Kamindu Mendis and Chamari Athapaththu were the biggest winners of the night, taking home the coveted Men's and Women's Cricketer of the Year honors.

Kamindu was rewarded for a remarkable Test season in which he had scored 1049 runs at a 74.92 average from just nine matches for being the Best Test Batter. His run tally was only beaten by four international cricketers who appeared in more matches. In white-ball cricket, the award for best T20I batter went to Kusal Mendis, who had scored 628 runs at a 127.64 strike rate. Pathum Nissanka won the ODI batter award with 694 runs at 63.09, including a historic undefeated 210 against Afghanistan—the first-ever white-ball double hundred by a Sri Lankan.

Chamari Athapaththu swept the women's categories with six awards in total. She was crowned the Women's Cricketer of the Year and collected all three T20I awards—best batter, bowler, and all-rounder—due to her 720 runs and 21 wickets. In ODIs, she was recognized as both the best batter and best all-rounder, scoring 458 runs at 65.42 and claiming nine wickets. Only Kavisha Dilhari’s 17 ODI wickets kept Athapaththu from a clean sweep, as she secured the ODI bowling award.

Broad recognition across formats and domestic cricket

For the men's Test category, Prabath Jayasuriya was awarded Best Bowler after taking 48 wickets from nine matches, putting him among the world's best performers. Dhananjaya de Silva took home Best Test All-Rounder for his 710 runs and six wickets in ten games. Wanindu Hasaranga had a great year in limited-overs cricket, winning Best Bowler in both ODIs and T20Is and the Best T20I All-Rounder award after claiming 64 wickets in the formats.

Charith Asalanka was awarded the ODI All-Rounder of the Year for his 605 runs and ten wickets, playing a pivotal part in Sri Lanka's 12-3 record in the format. Janith Liyanage, having made his ODI debut in early 2024, won Emerging Player of the Year for his 462 runs at 46.20.

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Domestic cricket was also in the limelight, with women's performances awarded for the first time. Rashmi Silva, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Nilakshika Silva were among the best award winners in the Major Club Women's Invitational. Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dananjaya, and others were among the top award winners in men's domestic competitions across formats. 46 awards were distributed, including Umpire and Match Referee of the Year and a number of Lifetime Achievement Awards. The occasion was attended by a number of previous and present cricketers, with Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage as the guest of honor.

The ongoing Women's ODI Tri-Nation series between India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa has already seen a lot of great performances, but there's more to witness as Nilakshi de Silva pulled off one of the stunning catches seen in recent times to dismiss South African player Chloe Tryon in the game between Sri Lanka and South Africa on Friday, May 02.

Nilakshi de Silva Takes One of The Finest Catch to Dismiss Chloe Tryon

The match had started with South Africa batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Within just 120 runs, South Africa lost their 5 wickets. Thereafter, Annerie Dercksen and Chloe Tryon hold the innings and built a strong half-century partnership for the sixth wicket.

 As the match is going on partnership between them is getting stronger, and it seems that the ship has been saved from sinking, but during the 41st over of the innings, Tryon looked to accelerate the scoreboard by stepping out to Dewmi Vihanga, the debutant over deep midwicket. The shot looked as if it would clear the rope, but Nilakshi had other plans. She was standing in the long-on region, ran in towards the ball, and timed her dive perfectly, keeping her body in a steady position to get a hold of the ball. The fielder also managed to keep her body away from the boundary rope, as the catch was taken inches away from the ropes, handing the bowler her second wicket in her international cricket career. At first, she wasn't sure that if her feet had touched the ropes or not, but after a quick third umpire review, it was confirmed that the catch was clear. Nilakshi herself looked to be in a state of surprise after taking the brilliant catch of Tryon, who walked back to the pavilion, contributing 35 runs to the team.

Here is the full video posted by FanCode's official handle on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/FanCode/status/1918225274266583344

South Africa Post Challenging 236 Target For The Hosts 

South Africa lost the toss, elected to bat first, and made 235/9 on board in 50 overs. The middle-order batter handled the extreme pressure situation after losing 5 wickets in just 120 runs. Annerie Dercksen's solid 61 and Lara Goodall's 46 provided stability to the team, which helped them to take the final score to 236. On the other hand, for Sri Lanka, Malki Madara picked up 4 wickets giving 50 runs, and Dewmi Vihanga continued her excellent form getting 3 wickets, including the key wicket of Tryon.

The final result of the match may swing to any side, but Nilakshis's sensational catch will leave a mark on this match and perhaps the series.

The Women's ODI Tri-Series 2025 began in Sri Lanka with three powerful teams: India Women, Sri Lanka Women, and South Africa Women. The tournament presents thrilling one-day international cricket games for fans globally. The series offers one of the thrilling matches for the fans worldwide 

Live streaming details:

Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium

FULL Schedule:

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Women's ODI Tri-Series 2025: Full Squads

Sri Lanka:Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hasini Perera, Piumi Wathsala, Manudi Nanayakkara, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Fernando, Hansima Karunaratne, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulsuriya.

South Africa:Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Nondumiso Shangase, Miané Smit, Chloé Tryon.

The India Women's team will face Sri Lanka and South Africa in a tri-nation series. The tournament is scheduled to start on Sunday, April 27. In the opening match, India W is set to face Sri Lanka W. The series is considered to be important for all three participating teams as a stage for World Cup preparations. 

Teams will have the chance to test their respective sides. If Harmanpreet Kaur led the Indian team, India is able to maintain their form, they can clinch the tri-nation series. On May 27, the final match will be held. India can face a serious threat from South Africa. Sri Lanka must pull itself out of their recent bad patch. 

Sri Lanka, despite being the host nation, is currently on the backfoot as they were recently defeated by New Zealand and Ireland. Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, would like to regroup in the tournament. 

See Also: Live streaming Details: Where & How to watch Sri Lanka Women's Tri-Nation Series, 2025

Full squads of three teams:

India Squad 

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Tejal Hasabnis, Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Kashvee Gautam, Shree Charani, and Shuchi Upadhyay.

South Africa Squad 

Laura Wolvaardt (c), Lara Goodall, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Miane Smit, Nadine De Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso (wk), Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu.

Presenting the prestigious Servo Cup 2025! 🏆
The Tri-Nation Women’s Series featuring Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa officially kicks off with the grand trophy launch. 🏏🇱🇰#SriLankaCricket #WomensCricket #ServoCup2025 pic.twitter.com/GDBRb8b0XJ

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) April 26, 2025

Sri Lanka Squad 

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hansima Karunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Manudi Nanayakkara, Nilakshika Silva, Vishmi Gunarathne, Dewmi Vihanga, Kavisha Dilhari, Piumi Badalge, Rashmika Sewwandi, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari.

Sri Lanka will host a women’s ODI tri-series featuring India and South Africa, starting on April 27, 2025. This tournament will help the teams get ready for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year.

All the matches will be held at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The series will begin with a match between Sri Lanka and India on April 27. Each team will play four matches in the group stage. The two teams with the most points will meet in the final on May 11, 2025.

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Tri-Nation Women’s ODI Series: Full Schedule 

Tri-Nation Women’s ODI Series: Full Squads

India Women: Smriti Mandhana,Pratika Rawal,Tejal Hasabnis,Jemimah Rodrigues,Harmanpreet Kaur,Harleen Deol,Deepti Sharma,Kashvee Gautam,Amanjot Kaur ,Sneh Rana,Yastika Bhatia,Richa Ghosh,Arundhati Reddy,Nallapureddy Charani.

Sri Lanka Women: Squad not announced yet

South Africa Women: Squad not announced yet

India has released its women's cricket squad for the forthcoming ODI tri-series to be played in Sri Lanka. The series is scheduled to start on April 27, 2025, and India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa will take part in it. Harmanpreet Kaur has been made the captain of the Indian team, with Smriti Mandhana as her vice-captain. A number of veteran players, such as Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Yastika Bhatia have also been named in the team.

One of the highlights of the times was the maiden selection of right-arm fast bowler Kashvee Gautam. She showed excellent cricket for the Gujarat Giants during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, taking 11 wickets in 9 matches. She was selected for the team because of her strong bowling and power-hitting skills. Two other young players, N. Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay, were also awarded their debut national team picks.

Despite all these, a few prominent players are missing in the team. Shafali Verma, who scored the most runs from Indian players during WPL 2025, is not present. In addition to this, pace bowlers such as Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Titas Sadhu were omitted because they are injured. The absence created opportunities for the emerging talents to make their mark at the international level.

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Kashvee Gautam was added to the squad

Kashvee Gautam's addition is regarded as a huge addition to India's bowling lineup. Her capacity to pick up early wickets and score lower down the order makes her an asset. Likewise, Shree Charani impressed with her left-arm spin in the WPL and picked up 4 wickets in only 2 games. Shuchi Upadhyay, who was awarded the best player in the previous Senior Women's One-Day Trophy, adds balance and form to the side.

The series will not only prepare India for future international games but will also give young players a chance to introduce themselves. With a mix of experienced cricketers and young talents, India appears to be ready to face the challenges of this tri-series.

Full India women's squad for the ODI tri-series 

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Tejal Hasabnis, N. Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay.

On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025, which will held in Pakistan from April 9 to 19. This will be the sixth edition tournament, featuring Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, and Ireland along with associate teams Scotland and Thailand. Matches will be played at two venues in Lahore: the well-known Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore Cricket Club Association (LCCA) Oval.  

The tournament will have 15 matches, starting with Pakistan playing against Ireland on April 9. On the same day, West Indies will face Scotland at the LCCA. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, joining Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and hosts India, who secured their spots through the ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25).

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“We’re happy to share the match schedule for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025,” said ICC CEO Geoff Allardice. “These six teams are just one step away from making it to the Women’s Cricket World Cup, and I’m sure they’re all excited for the competition. On behalf of the ICC, I wish all the teams the best of luck for the tournament in Lahore as we build up to the big event later this year,” he added.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, India's openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, provided a strong foundation with a 98-run partnership. Mandhana showcased her class with a well-crafted half-century but was run out immediately after reaching the milestone, while Verma fell shortly after for 43 off 40 balls. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge with a blistering unbeaten 50 off 27 deliveries, propelling India to a formidable total of 172/3. In response, Sri Lanka faltered under pressure, handing India a resounding victory and a ticket to the semifinals.

See Also: Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy's T20I return after two years

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Explosive Half-Century Powers India to Victory, Ending Sri Lanka’s World Cup Campaign

India Women produced a clinical performance to knock Sri Lanka out of the Women's T20 World Cup and secure their place in the semifinals with an emphatic 82-run victory. After opting to bat first, India set the tone early, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma displaying superb form at the top of the order. Their calculated aggression during the powerplay put the Sri Lankan bowlers on the back foot, and the duo stitched together a commanding 98-run partnership that laid the foundation for India’s innings. Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, struggled to create breakthroughs and prevent the boundaries from flowing.

Mandhana, who looked in sublime touch, brought up her half-century in style but was run out the very next ball. This breakthrough moment for Sri Lanka, however, failed to turn the tide in their favor. Shafali Verma, after a well-compiled 43 off 40 balls, also perished soon after, but India still had momentum on their side. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed briefly before falling in the 17th over, which set the stage for the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to take charge at the crease.

Kaur, known for her ability to finish innings with authority, wasted no time in asserting her dominance. Despite Richa Ghosh joining her and struggling to find rhythm, Kaur took on the Sri Lankan bowlers with fierce intent. The final few overs of India's innings saw a barrage of boundaries, as Kaur unleashed her powerful strokes across all parts of the ground. Her aggressive approach yielded 44 runs from the last 22 balls of the innings, with Ghosh managing only six runs in that period, as the Sri Lankan attack failed to contain Kaur's assault.

Sri Lankan bowlers, desperate to stop the onslaught, resorted to attempting yorkers, but their execution was off the mark. Kaur capitalized on their errors, driving and lofting the full-length deliveries at an astonishing strike rate of 213. By the time India’s innings ended at 172/3, Kaur had smashed an unbeaten 52 off just 27 balls, sealing the momentum in India’s favor. Her knock not only earned her the Player of the Match award but also demonstrated the firepower in India's middle order, which had been under some scrutiny earlier in the tournament.

In response, Sri Lanka crumbled under the pressure of chasing a daunting total. The Indian bowlers, riding high on the platform set by their batters, delivered an all-round performance to bundle out Sri Lanka for a paltry total. India’s comprehensive win, their largest in Women’s T20 World Cup history in terms of runs, not only cemented their place in the semifinals but also sent a strong message to their rivals as they continue their hunt for the title.

See Also: India women early dominance against Pakistan women

Pakistan started their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a commanding win, defeating Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka by 31 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 3. This victory sets the tone for Pakistan as they aim for more success in the tournament.

Pakistan fly high on the opening day of the Women's #T20WorldCup 2024 🤩#PAKvSL | #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/afHJwjcnv8

— ICC (@ICC) October 3, 2024

Fatima Sana’s crucial knock helps Pakistan set a defendable target

Despite a shaky start, Pakistan managed to put up a competitive total, thanks to a brilliant contribution by captain Fatima Sana. After Pakistan struggled at 32/3, Sana stepped up, scoring a quickfire 30 off 20 balls with three fours and a six. Her aggressive batting helped Pakistan recover from early setbacks, propelling the team to 117, a total that proved too much for Sri Lanka on a sluggish pitch.

The battle of the captains goes in favour of Pakistan's #FatimaSana as she dismisses Sri Lanka's #ChamariAthapaththu! 🔥 (only available in India)#WomensWorldCuponStar #PAKSL pic.twitter.com/yBUr26FPjD

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 3, 2024

It's number 5️⃣ for #SriLanka and #Pakistan's power hitter #NidaDar departs for 23 (22)! 🤩

Can captain #FatimaSana score more runs for her side and set up the win? 🤔#WomensWorldCuponStar #PAKSL pic.twitter.com/47DzofHKTd

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 3, 2024

Youngest captain after Meg Lanning to lead her side to victory in a Women's #T20WorldCup match 💪

Watch Fatima Sana's @aramco #POTM performance 👉 https://t.co/NXmALCt3ld#WhateverItTakes #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/ZXkyyyHSPN

— ICC (@ICC) October 3, 2024

Omaima Sohail and Nida Dar stabilize the innings

Following Pakistan’s top-order collapse, Omaima Sohail and Nida Dar played critical roles in stabilizing the innings. Omaima contributed with a patient 18, while Nida added a valuable 23. Their partnership brought much-needed momentum, laying the foundation for Fatima Sana’s late-game heroics.

 

 

 

 

 

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Sri Lanka’s bowlers shine despite loss

While Sri Lanka couldn’t chase down the target, their spinners, Chamari Athapaththu and Sugandhika Kumari, were outstanding with the ball. Both bowlers took three wickets each, keeping Pakistan under pressure throughout their innings. However, their efforts were not enough, as Sri Lanka fell short in their chase, managing only 85/9 in their 20 overs.

See Also: Diana Baig's injury scare brings a big blow for Pakistan Women

Pakistan’s dominant bowling display, combined with Fatima Sana’s captaincy, made the difference in the match. Sri Lanka will need to regroup and refocus as they face the tough challenge of Australia in their next fixture, while Pakistan prepares for their high-profile clash against India.

The Sri Lanka Women's side became prominent after a memorable triumph in the recent Women's Asia Cup tournament against a robust India side. With an optimum mix of experience and emerging talent, the Lankan squad have shown their top-class calibre by scalping their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title after many attempts by qualifying for the final stages.

As it implies, there is no doubt that they have a strong chance of getting their first-ever Women's T20 World Cup title, as they maintain the same gameplay. With that said, here's the announced Sri Lanka squad for the tournament, with its Probable XI and their top three players to check out. 

Announced Women's Sri Lanka 2024 T20 World Cup Full Squad:

Chamari Athapaththu (Captain), Anushka Sanjeewani (Wicketkeeper), Harshitha Madhavi, Nilakshika de Silva, Inoka Ranaweera, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Sachini Nisansala, Vishmi Gunaratne, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Kaushini Nuthyangana*

*Travelling Reserve

Sri Lanka Probable XI:  

• Vishmi Gunaratne
• Chamari Athapaththu (Captain)
• Harshitha Samarawickrama
• Kavisha Dilhari
• Nilakshika de Silva
• Anushka Sanjeewani (Wicketkeeper)
• Hasini Perera
• Sugandika Kumari
• Inoshi Priyadarshani
• Udeshika Prabodhani
• Sachini Nisansala

Also Read: 2024 Women's T20 World Cup: Bangladesh Women's Team squad, Probable XI & Top 3 players to check out

Top 3 players to check out from Sri Lanka in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup:

Chamari Athapaththu

Chamari Athapaththu was the face of Sri Lanka's first-ever Women's Asia Cup triumph, signifying her experienced batting calibre and a top-class captain's mindset. In her Women's Asia Cup victory, she was the highest run-scorer and the Player of the Tournament.

Having experience across several formats, tournaments and conditions, Chamari is one of the leading players to check out for. In her long T20I stint, she has played 139 matches and made 3326 runs, averaging over 26. 

Harshitha Samarawickrama

Harshitha Samarawickrama, the left-hand batter, has played a vital role in bolstering the team's top-order batting. Following the captain's footsteps, she has played across different conditions and tournaments, citing her experience taking up hostile and authoritarian play modes.

She was known to be an accumulator and a busy top-order batter, and she idolised Kumar Sangakarra, indicating her inspiration for her signature Cover Drive. In her T20I stint, she has made 1463 runs in 65 matches, at a commendable average of over 31. 

Udeshika Prabodhani

Udeshika Prabodhani is a left-arm medium pacer with a quick inswinger thrown after a brief trundle that has defeated numerous batters. And she has done it frequently enough to become a fixture in Sri Lanka's bowling attack over the last decade. One of her most remarkable characteristics is her ability to maintain tight lines and lengths, making her a valuable player for her side at critical periods, frequently getting wickets when needed.

Her longevity and continuous success demonstrate her fitness, ability, and enthusiasm for the game. In her T20I career, she has scalped 80 wickets in 102 matches at a noteworthy economy of 5.48.