Sri Lanka women's team defeated Scotland by 68 runs in the summit clash of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024. Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a total of 169/5 in 20 overs with skipper Chamari Athapaththu smashing 102 runs off just 63 balls. Later, Sri Lanka restricted Scotland to 101/7 with Udeshika Prabodhani registering a three-wicket haul. Athapaththu, whose knock played a huge role in Sri Lanka's victory, also gave a hilarious moment when she survived a close dismissal.
During the 17th over of Sri Lanka's innings, Athapaththu got played by the delivery from Abtaha Maqsood. The Sri Lankan skipper got an inside edge which saw the ball going back and touching the stumps. However, the bails failed to dislodge and Athapaththu survived.
Seeing such a close call, Scotland stand-in skipper and wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce gave a disappointing reaction.
However, this was not the only instance in the match where the fortune favoured Athapaththu. On the next delivery of the same over, Athapaththu went for a big hit but the fielder in the deep dropped a catch and gave the Sri Lankan another life.
Chasing 170 to win, Saskia Horley and Megan McColl began with positive intent, hitting three boundaries in as many overs. However, Horley fell in the third over itself trying to steal a quick single after deflecting the ball towards Nilakshika Silva in the mid-off region.
Her partner, McColl, was trapped leg before by Udeshika Prabodhani in the next over. Scotland's troubles compounded when skipper Sarah Bryce was bowled two balls later.
Scotland had added six more runs before Sugandika Kumari removed Darcey Carter (3) to leave their chase in disarray at 23/4. After the first powerplay, Priyanaz Chatterji took the initiative by hitting a flurry of boundaries.
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 cleaned up by Inoshi Priyadarshini in the 13th over.
Sri Lanka's win seemed a mere formality thereafter with Prabodhani picking up another wicket to finish as Sri Lanka's top performer with the ball.
By virtue of being finalists in the tournament, both sides had already qualified for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.
With the win, Sri Lanka will join Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan in Group A of the Women's T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Scotland join hosts Bangladesh, England, South Africa and West Indies.
(With ANI Inputs)