Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign is still alive and kicking, thanks to a heart-stopping three-wicket win over Scotland at Old Trafford. The Sri Lankan women's team showed remarkable resilience in chasing down a competitive 152, securing the victory with just one ball to spare and moving into third place in Group 2.
Scotland had set up a thrilling contest, posting an impressive 151-6 from their 20 overs. A late surge from Sarah Bryce, who remained unbeaten on 47 from 33 deliveries, alongside Ailsa Lister's vital contribution of 16* (11), propelled them to a strong finish after initially struggling against Sri Lanka's spin-heavy attack.
The match was marked by dramatic twists and turns. Chamari Athapaththu set the tone with a blistering 33 from just 16 balls, including taking 18 runs from Gabriella Fontenla's sole over. However, her dismissal sparked a wobble in Sri Lanka's innings. They slumped from 57-1 to 78-4 and later to 118-6 as Scotland's bowlers, led by Kathryn Bryce (2-23) and Katherine Fraser (2-19), turned up the heat.
The final overs were a rollercoaster ride of tension. With 34 runs needed from five overs and four wickets in hand, Sri Lanka showed incredible grit. Kaushani Nuthyangana's consecutive boundaries added to the drama before her dismissal. Priyanaz Chatterji completed the penultimate over after Rachel Slater pulled up injured, setting up a thrilling finish. In the end, Sugandika Dasanayaka sealed the win with a crucial boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings.
Despite this impressive victory, Sri Lanka's path to the semi-finals remains precarious. They need specific results from Saturday's Group 2 matches: West Indies must suffer a heavy defeat against Ireland, and New Zealand must lose to England. If these outcomes materialise, Sri Lanka would advance on net run-rate – underlining the intense competition in this tournament.
Source: ICC