Sri Lanka Secures Spot in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Sri Lanka has secured their place alongside Scotland in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in Bangladesh from 3rd to 20th October. The seasoned Sri Lankan team faced a tough challenge from the host team, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as they defended their 149-run total in the crucial second semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi.

The Sri Lankan team is now set to face Scotland in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, scheduled for Tuesday, 7th May at the same venue.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bat first. Openers Vishmi Gunaratne and team captain Chamari Athapaththu provided a strong start with a 52-run partnership in just 7.2 overs. Athapaththu, however, was dismissed by UAE’s leg-spinner Vaishnave Mahesh after scoring 21 runs, including two consecutive sixes.

Gunaratne then formed a 44-run partnership with Harshitha Madavi, which was eventually broken by Mahesh in the 16th over. Gunaratne, who scored 45 runs, became the tournament’s leading run scorer, surpassing Kathryn Bryce. She was stumped off a wide ball by Esha Oza after hitting five fours in her 44-ball innings.

Following Gunaratne’s dismissal, middle-order batters Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, and Nilakshi De Silva collectively hit eight boundaries in the death overs, taking the team’s total to a competitive 149 runs.

Oza then delivered one of the tournament’s standout innings, leading the UAE’s batting charge. Despite losing her opening partner, Theertha Satish, in the first over, Oza led a 66-run second-wicket partnership with Khushi Sharma and a 37-run third-wicket partnership with Kavisha Egodage, keeping the UAE in contention.

Oza’s impressive 66-run innings off 44 balls, which included four sixes, left Sri Lanka’s bowlers scrambling for answers. Her dismissal in the 16th over by Udeshika Prabodhani marked a turning point in the match, with the UAE’s lower-order batters unable to secure the necessary boundaries against Sri Lanka’s tight fielding and bowling.

The UAE managed a total of 134/7 at the end of their innings. Athapaththu was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, taking two wickets for 28 runs in four overs. Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, and Udeshika Prabodhani also took a wicket each.

Match Summary:

Second Semi-final:

Sri Lanka defeated UAE by 15 runs

Sri Lanka:

149 for 6 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 45, Harshitha Madavi 24, Chamari Athapaththu 21; Esha Oza 2-27, Vaishnave Mahesh 2-33)

UAE:

134 for 7 in 20 overs (Esha Oza 66, Khushi Sharma 22; Chamari Athapaththu 2-28)

Player of the Match:

Esha Oza