That brings an end to our coverage for this game. Do join us for more cricketing action all around the globe. For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Megh Mandaliya and scorer Zeeshan Naiyer. Tata. Bye Bye.
Suzie Bates (Falcons Women Skipper):"Yeah, it was brilliant. Batting well in the powerplay in the powerplay was something we talked about and it was an outstanding effort today from Athapaththu. It’s a really tough competition if you don't turn up. We had a really good game today in all the departments and hope we can win it tomorrow as well."
Sana Mir (South Coast Sapphires Women Skipper): "Kapp bowled really well in the powerplay and our batters didn't get going. We did well to finish on a high but it wasn't going to be enough. We are seeing 120 and 111 being defended on this wicket. We were confident but picked only one quick wicket and failed to pick more wickets."
Chamari Athapaththu (Player of the Match):"Yeah, I wanted to finish the game early and it was my duty. I am enjoying here and looking forward to the next game."
Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu
10:08 AM IST: That's it. Chamari Athapaththu finishes things in style.A solid all-round effort sees the Falcons Women beat the South Coast Sapphires Women comprehensively. Chasing a modest total, Athapaththu led the charge with the bat as she remains unbeaten on 75 to help her side win the game by nine wickets.
After knocking over the Sapphires Women on 131, the Falcons Women got off to a very good start. Athapaththu came out all guns blazing as she took on the Sapphires' bowlers from the word go. Sana Mir trapped Dannielle Wyatt on four in the last over of the powerplay but there was no stopping Athapaththu from the other end. She continued playing her strokes and scored at a brisk rate.
Skipper Suzie Bates joined Athapaththu in the middle and didn't allow the Sapphires to settle in. Athapaththu brought up her fifty off just 31 balls. She cleared the fence with ease and kept hitting boundaries for fun. Athapaththu (75* off 44 balls) and Bates (42* off 30 balls) stitched 86 between them which helped them get across the line in the 14th over to win the game by nine wickets. The Sapphires Women were blown away by the Falcons Women and will hope to forget this loss.
Earlier, Falcons’ skipper Suzie Bates won the toss and opted to bowl first. They got off to a fantastic start with the ball as they picked up three quick wickets and reduced the Sapphires Women to 30/3 at the end of the powerplay. None of the Sapphires Women got going as the Falcons Women kept picking wickets at regular intervals. They were reeling at 63/7 in the 13th over.
Kary Chan along with Shabnim Ismail started to build a partnership. Both kept the scoreboard ticking and found odd boundaries. Both put 57 between them for the eighth wicket. Ismail fell on 26 in the penultimate over on 26. Chan departed on 32 in the last over which helped them post 131 on the board. Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the bowlers for the Falcons as she picked up three wickets, giving away only 15 runs in her four overs. Sornnarin Tippoch also bowled beautifully and finished with figures of 2/11 in her four overs.
13.3 P To to C Athapaththu
6 SIXXX! Athapaththu finishes the contest with a massive maximum and it has been a comprehensive victory for the Falcons. Short and on the flatter trajectory on the fourth stump line, Athapaththu reads that early and rocks back as the left-hander hoicks that towards deep mid-wicket. The ball sails into the stands and the Falcons defeat the South Coast Sapphires by 9 wickets.
13.2 P To to S Bates
1 Good length and on the leg stump line, Bates nudges that to deep mid-wicket with soft hands for a single.
13.1 P To to S Bates
2 Full toss in the middle, Bates drags that to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Good effort from Katherine Sciver-Brunt in the deep. She saved a couple of runs for her side.