ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024 Final Scotland Vs Sri Lanka. Key player battles.
The Sri Lankan women’s team led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu stayed unbeaten throughout the tournament, topping the table with four victories from four games. The Sri Lankan bowlers managed to hold their nerve to survive a spirited effort from the United Arab Emirates skipper Esha Oza to book their spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, later this year courtesy of a 15-run victory against the UAE in the 2nd semi-final.
The Scotland women’s team led by skipper Kathryn Bryce finished 2nd on the points table with six points from four games, including three victories. Their solitary defeat came on 27th April 2024 against Sri Lanka, when they were thrashed by 10 wickets. Scotland stunned Ireland in the 1st semi-final by eight wickets and 22 balls to spare to book a spot for their maiden appearance in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, this year.
The Scotland Women’s team led by skipper Kathryn Bryce is all set to face the Sri Lankan challenge led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024 tonight.
Let’s have a look at the key player battles to watch out for.
Vishmi Gunaratne Vs Pace
The 18-year-old young sensation from Sri Lanka is currently the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka and the 2nd highest run-scorer of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier with 180 runs to her name at a strike rate of 105.88 and a sensational average of 60 in five innings so far. Her tally of runs includes one unbeaten half-century (73 off 64 balls) against Uganda on 1st May 2024.
She has a career average of 21.08 in the T20I format. However, it drops down significantly to 6.76 against the pacers with 13 dismissals. The Scotland pace battery consisting of the likes of Kathryn Bryce and Rachel Slater is the duo that can potentially trouble the Sri Lankan opening batter in the final.
However, out of her three dismissals so far, a couple of dismissals have come against the spinners so far in the ongoing tournament.
Chamari Athapaththu (Type of Dismissals)
The Sri Lankan skipper has blown hot and cold in terms of her returns with the bat. Her best performance with the bat so far came on 27th April 2024 against Scotland when she scored an unbeaten 59 off 35 balls. Out of her 124 dismissals, 39 times, she has been dismissed either Leg Before Wicket (LBW) or Bowled.
Her performance with the ball has been impressive as she has picked up seven wickets in five innings.
Kathryn Bryce Vs Spin (14.17)
The Scotland skipper has been in sensational form with the bat in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier. She has scored 177 runs in five innings and a sensational average of 88.50. Her tally of runs includes a couple of half-centuries. She is currently the highest run-scorer for Scotland and the 3rd highest run-scorer of the tournament. She has a career average of 39.90 in the T20I format. However, it drops down drastically to 14.17 when she faces the spinners.
A couple of her dismissals in the ongoing tournament have come against the spinners. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up nine wickets at an average of 6.88 in five innings. She is the highest wicket-taker for Scotland and the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Abtaha Maqsood Vs Left Hand Batters
The 24-year-old leg-spinner has been one of the stand-out performers for her side. She has picked up eight wickets with the ball in five innings. She could be a game-changer in the final. She has an exceptional career average of 15.11. However, her average shoots up to 30.16 against the Left Hand Batters (LHB). So far in the tournament, she has only dismissed one left-hander out of all her dismissals.