Chamari Athapaththu’s Stellar Century Drives Sri Lanka to Victory in Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Qualifier
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Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, delivered a remarkable century, paving the way for a significant victory in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier final against Scotland.
Scotland’s stand-in captain, Sarah Bryce, who replaced her sister Kathryn Bryce due to an injury, chose to bowl first after winning the toss in Abu Dhabi. Her decision was justified by her bowlers, with seamer Priyanaz Chatterji taking the vital wicket of Vishmi Gunaratne (9) in the third over.
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Off-spinner Katherine Fraser then dismissed Harshita Samarawickrama (8) before the end of the first Powerplay, giving Scotland another breakthrough. Dynamic all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari came in at number four and attempted to rebuild the innings alongside captain Athapaththu.
Despite hitting a couple of aggressive fours, Dilhari was stumped after advancing down the pitch to leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood. Having weathered the new ball, Athapaththu accelerated in Hannah Rainey’s third over. Capitalising on a free hit off the third ball, Athapaththu drove the pacer over covers for a four. She followed up with two more boundaries off the subsequent balls, pushing her strike-rate above 100.
A six and a four off Chloe Abel brought Athapaththu close to her second fifty of the tournament. The veteran left-hander was unstoppable from there on.
Athapaththu reached her fifty with a six over Fraser in the 14th over, followed by another six against Chatterji in the next over.
Luck was on Athapaththu’s side in the 17th over, bowled by Maqsood. An inside edge saw the ball ricochet back and touch the stumps, but the bails remained intact.
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Athapaththu was given another life on the very next ball when a fielder in the deep dropped a catch. The relentless Athapaththu continued to punish Scotland, reaching her hundred off just 60 balls, marking the first century of the tournament.
Rachel Slater’s double strike accounted for Athapaththu and Hasini Perera (0), but by then, Sri Lanka had already established a commanding position.
Chasing 170 to win, Saskia Horley and Megan McColl started positively, hitting three boundaries in as many overs. However, Horley fell in the third over, attempting a quick single after deflecting the ball towards Nilakshika Silva in the mid-off region.
McColl was trapped leg before wicket by Udeshika Prabodhani in the following over, and Scotland’s troubles deepened when captain Sarah Bryce was bowled two balls later.
Scotland added six more runs before Sugandika Kumari dismissed Darcey Carter (3), leaving their chase in disarray at 23/4. After the first powerplay, Priyanaz Chatterji took the initiative by hitting a flurry of boundaries.
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Despite this, Scotland were at 48/4 at the halfway stage, needing over 12 runs per over to win the final. Chatterji’s brisk 30 came to an end when she was bowled by Inoshi Priyadarshini in the 13th over.
Sri Lanka’s victory seemed inevitable thereafter, with Prabodhani taking another wicket to finish as Sri Lanka’s top performer with the ball.
By reaching the finals, both teams had already qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.
With this victory, Sri Lanka will now join Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan in Group A of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Scotland will join hosts Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and West Indies.