Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was trapped leg-before by Ash Gardner, but Alyssa Healy wouldn't mind a part of the credit.
Athapaththu's dismissal in the fourth over their Women's T20 World Cup game was a big setback to Sri Lanka in the quest for their first-ever T20I win against the defending champions. The build up to the dismissal came through a silent start in the powerplay, having managed just six runs in the first three overs (including back-to-back maidens), and losing the other opener, Vishmi Gunaratne.
Just before Athapaththu's dismissal, the stump mic caught her counterpart Healy cheekily sledging the Sri Lanka captain for her slow approach.
“Oh my God, play a shot Chamari!," Healy was heard saying from behind the stumps.
While not as crude as the infamous (alleged) sledge by her father-in-law Ian Healy to Arjuna Ranatunga in 1996, the banter had the desired effect.
Next ball, Athapaththu tried to sweep away Gardner, but missed the line completely. Healy was quick to review, convinced that the ball wasn't straying down leg. Replays showed that the ball had indeed missed the bat and hit her in line, giving Gardner her first scalp.
Athapaththu walked back for a disappointing 12-ball three, and Sri Lanka's innings never quite took off, managing just 93-7 at the end of 20 overs.
Megan Schutt led the charge with figures of 4-1-12-3, levelling with Shabnim Ismail for the most wickets by a bowler in Women's T20 World Cup history (43).
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