In the heart of Sri Lanka’s cricketing summer, as the Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series unfolded with its usual blend of intensity and unpredictability, 19-year-old off-spinner from the Island nation has emerged as one of the tournament’s most captivating stories.
Dewmi Vihanga, with her maiden five-wicket haul against South Africa in the 6th match of the series, has not only marked her arrival on the international stage but also injected a fresh wave of hope and excitement into Sri Lankan women’s cricket.
Dewmi Vihanga’s five-wicket haul was a masterclass in control, guile, and youthful fearlessness. Bowling nine overs, she dismantled the South African batting lineup, finishing with figures of 5 wickets for 43 runs. What stood out was her ability to read the batters, vary her pace, and extract subtle turn even on a surface offering little assistance.
She accounted for the big scalps of the likes of the opposition skipper Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Lara Goodall, Maine Smit, and the wicket-keeper batter Sinalo Jafta (9-0-43-5) in her spell. Her wickets weren’t mere gifts; they were the result of calculated strategy. Dewmi mixed her stock deliveries with clever flight and the occasional quicker one, luring experienced batters into false shots. Her temperament under pressure was remarkable, never flustered, always plotting. Each wicket was celebrated with the quiet confidence of a player who knows she belongs at this level.
Vihanga’s five-for was no flash in the pan. Her journey through the Tri-Nation Series has been a story of steady impact. Against South Africa (10-1-41-3) in the opening encounter, she broke crucial partnerships and kept the run rate in check. Even against the might of India’s batting, she bowled with discipline (10-0-54-1), picking up a wicket and showing she could hold her own against world-class opposition.
Under the inspirational leadership of Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka has played fearless cricket throughout the series. With four points from three games, the team has secured a place in the final against table-toppers India. While Athapaththu’s batting has often grabbed headlines, it’s been the emergence of young talents like Dewmi Vihanga that has truly set this campaign apart.
Sri Lanka’s bowling unit, traditionally reliant on experience, has found new energy in Vihanga’s youthful exuberance. Her performances have not only helped Sri Lanka put up an impressive display but have also given Athapaththu crucial options in the middle overs, a phase where matches are often won or lost.
Historically, Sri Lanka has produced world-class spinners, but the women’s team has often lacked a consistent wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. Vihanga’s emergence could mark a turning point. Her performances have not only given Sri Lanka a new match-winner but have also inspired a generation of young girls watching from the stands or on television, dreaming of their own cricketing futures.
Her confidence, skill, and composure at just 19 hints at a bright future, not only for herself but for the team as a whole. As Sri Lanka prepares to face India in the series final, much will depend on how Vihanga and her teammates handle the pressure. But whatever the outcome, her performances have already ensured that Sri Lanka’s spin department is in safe hands for years to come.
