Stars complete practice match in Colombo

The batters dominated Australia’s sole tour match of the two-week limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo ahead of Sunday’s one-day international series opener in Dambulla.

The intra-squad encounter consisting of 40 overs per side featured seven Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars players in each team, as well as a number of local players called up to play with - and against - some of the world’s best ODI players.

Opening up for the ‘Seals’ XI, big-hitting allrounder Grace Harris was at her destructive best against the new ball in the morning as she found – and often cleared – the boundary with ease.

After enduring a rollercoaster home season last summer, Harris today showed why she is one of the most-feared batters in the game with some brutal hitting down the ground, along with the occasional display of finesse to beat the in-field.

Harris was well supported by left-hander Beth Mooney at the top of the order against a bowling attack led by seamer Rene Farrell.

Leg-spinner Kristen Beams engaged in a fascinating battle with Harris, as the national teammates traded sharp-turning deliveries past the edge with the occasional boundary to relieve the pressure on the batting side.

The drinks break not only brought a welcome opportunity to rehydrate on a hot Colombo day, it also allowed Meg Lanning’s ‘Dolphins’ side to re-group following the early dominance from those wielding the willow.

While Lanning fielded in the earlier innings today, the Stars skipper played no part in the run chase as she manages her preparation for the series following a shoulder injury that ruled her out of last month's T20 Super League in England. 

Mooney chipped one from part-time medium pacer Elyse Villani to end the opening stand on 71, bringing star allrounder Ellyse Perry to the crease.

Harris pushed a single down the ground to bring up a forceful fifty, but departed soon after when she sent an Erin Osborne delivery sailing straight to deep-midwicket.

Perry soon joined Harris back in the pavilion for 18 when a horrible mix-up with Alex Blackwell and some sharp work by Alyssa Healy resulted in a run out.

The batting side then handed over their wickets with increasing regularity as the loss of Jess Jonassen (7), Megan Schutt (4), Holly Ferling (0) and Jonassen again (4) left the score at 7-150.

All the while, Blackwell was as calm and composed as ever.

The national vice-captain was again joined out in the middle by Perry as the tourists sought an opportunity for more batting practice, but there was to be no miscommunication between the experience duo this time around as they set about increasing the run rate in the latter stages of the innings.

The pair took turns in collecting boundaries and raced along to a century partnership before Perry’s second innings came to a close on 63, caught at long-off to hand Beams her second wicket.

Mooney was the next batter to return to the crease, but this stay was only a brief one as Farrell dismantled her stumps while seeking quick runs.

Blackwell was superb in walking from the field unbeaten on 63, leaving the Dolphins with an intimidating target of 266 to pursue.

Western Australia openers Nicole Bolton and Villani made a promising start to the run chase, with Bolton’s driving through the off-side a particular highlight.

The left-arm orthodox spin of Jonassen broke the 61-run opening stand courtesy of a sharp return catch, while Healy’s stint at No.3 was short-lived as Harris struck with her off-spin.

Harris quickly snared a second wicket when Bolton picked out mid-off for 40 and the Dolphins were suddenly 3-81.

Osborne and Farrell helped steady the ship with a 51-run stand but they both fell in quick succession to the bowling of Jonassen as the cool change began to sweep through the venue.

Healy made the most of another opportunity to spend some time in the middle before the series begins on Sunday, accumulating boundaries as she pleased.

Following the dismissal of Beams for 9, Villani and Bolton were unable to make the most of their second chances as Healy continued to pepper the boundary.

The wicketkeeper-batter combined lofted cover drives with dominant stroke-play back down the ground before being dismissed in the final over by Perry as the Seals claimed victory by 11 runs.

Jonassen was the pick of the bowlers with 3-31 from eight overs, while Harris chipped in with 2-27, and the duo loom as a handful on the slow, turning pitches that are set to greet the Australians when they arrive in Dambulla tomorrow.

 

Fixtures

Tour match: R. Premadasa Stadium, 15 September at 2:20pm AEST

First ODI: Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, 18 September at 2:20pm AEST

Second ODI*: Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, 20 September at 2:20pm AEST

Third ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 23 September at 2:20pm AEST

Fourth ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 25 September at 2:20pm AEST

T20: SSC Ground, 27 September at 6:30pm AEST

*ICC Championship matches

You can follow regular updates from Australia’s tour match, four ODIs and T20 in Sri Lanka at @SouthernStars on Twitter.