Sri Lanka’s journey in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier has been marked by convincing performances in the league games to navigating through a nail-biting Semi-Final. As they gear up to battle first-time finalists Scotland, let’s take a quick look back at favorites Sri Lanka’s campaign.
Match 1 – Sri Lanka vs Thailand
Sri Lanka kicked off their campaign against Thailand at Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi. In a commanding performance, Sri Lanka registered a resounding 67-run win. Hasini Perera and Nilakshi de Silva led the batting charge for Sri Lanka, each scoring 29 runs, helping the team to post a total of 122 runs in 20 overs. In the second innings, the Lankan bowlers excelled, restricting Thailand to a mere 55 runs. Inoshi Priyadharshani claimed 3 wickets, Udeshika Prabodhani bagged a couple, while Kavisha Dilhari, Achini Kulasuriya, and Chamari Athapaththu, each chipped in with a wicket, contributing to the emphatic win.
Match 2 – Sri Lanka vs Scotland
The now finalists, Sri Lanka and Scotland locked horns in match 2 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, resulting in a comprehensive 10-wicket victory for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka showcased formidable bowling performances, restricting Scotland to just 95 runs. Kavisha Dilhari spearheaded the attack with an exceptional spell, claiming 4 wickets in 3.2 overs, supported by Priyadharshani’s 3-fer, Sugandhika’s couple, and Achini’s lone strike. In response, the Lankan openers sealed the deal, with skipper Chamari’s impressive innings of 59 runs playing a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s convincing victory.
Match 3 – Sri Lanka vs Uganda
In their third match against Uganda at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka extended their unbeaten streak with a commanding 67-run victory. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 154 runs, propelled by Vishmi Gunaratne’s impressive innings of 73 runs and handy 30 runs off Hasini Perera’s blade. Uganda struggled against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling, managing only 87 runs before being bowled out. Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered a commendable performance, with Inoka Ranaweera, Shashikala Siriwardene, and Kavisha Dilhari each claiming two wickets, while Oshadi Ranasinghe and Chamari Athapaththu added one wicket each to the tally, registering their third straight win.
Match 4 – Sri Lanka vs United States of America
In their last group stage match against the USA at Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought 18-run victory in a closely contested encounter. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a modest total of 124 runs, with Vishami Gunaratne and Hansima Karunaratne top-scoring with identical scores of 25. In response, the USA suffered a collapse, managing only 105 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Once again, Chamari Athapaththu shone for Sri Lanka, claiming 3 wickets, while Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweera struck a wicket each.
Semi-Final – Sri Lanka vs United Arab Emirates
In the Semi-Final of the global qualifiers, Sri Lanka faced the UAE in a tense encounter. Despite a spirited effort from the UAE, it was Sri Lanka who held their nerve to secure a place in the Final. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 149 runs in 20 overs, with Gunaratne scoring 45 runs off 44 balls and Madavi chipping in scoring 24 runs. In the second innings, the UAE fought valiantly, with Esha Oza’s impressive knock of 66 runs keeping them in contention. However, the strong and in-form Lankan bowling attack proved too much for the UAE, as they managed to score 134 runs, falling short by 15 runs.
The final showdown of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier is set to take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, featuring two tournament heavyweights, Sri Lanka and Scotland. It is to be noted that both finalists have secured their spots in the upcoming ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held later this year in Bangladesh.
