DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (CMC) - West Indies Women suffered the first defeat on their tour of the island nation, when Sri Lanka Women pinched a two-wicket victory in the second One-Day International yesterday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

West Indies Women set Sri Lanka Women 170 for victory from their allocation of 50 overs, and the home team reached the target with four balls remaining.

The victory meant that Sri Lanka have levelled the five-match ODI series 1-1, after West Indies won the opening match on Wednesday by 40 runs.

The third match of the series will be contested tomorrow at the Welegedara Stadium in the central Sri Lanka city of Kurunegala about 94 kilometres from the island nation's capital of Colombo.

Kirbyina Alexander set Sri Lanka Women back early, when she bowled Chamari Kumarihami for a duck in the fourth over.

West Indies Women snared wickets at regular intervals, but Sri Lanka Women steadily built toward their target with their captain Shashikala Siriwardene hitting the top score of 43 from 69 balls and Dedunu Silva making 37 from 72 balls, keeping them in step.

Afy Fletcher, the sister of West Indies and new Stanford Superstars millionaire batsman Andre Fletcher, was the most successful West Indies Women's bowler with two wickets for 30 runs from eight overs.

Earlier, West Indies Women fell away after a sound start from their openers Stefanie Taylor and Merissa Aguilleira.
Taylor led the way with 33 from 39 balls and Aguilleira supported with 27 from 43 balls in an opening stand of 62, before Eshani Kaushalya removed both of them in the space of 15 deliveries to leave the visitors on 68 for two.

There was little substance and little stability from the rest of the batters, except Juliana Nero with 30 from 75 balls.

Four Sri Lanka Women's bowlers - Kaushalya and Siriwardene, as well as Suwini de Alwis and Sripali Weerakkody - collected two wickets apiece.

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