Sri Lanka Women Triumph in T20 World Cup Qualifier, Defeat Scotland by 68 Runs

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team emerged victorious in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, defeating Scotland by a commanding 68 runs in the summit clash. The triumph secured their spot in the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a formidable total of 169/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu led the charge with a scintillating century, smashing 102 runs off just 63 deliveries. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, peppered with boundaries and sixes.

Scotland's bowlers struggled to contain Athapaththu's onslaught, with only Abtaha Maqsood managing to pick up a wicket. However, fortune smiled upon Athapaththu in the 17th over when she survived a close call. An inside edge saw the ball touch the stumps, but the bails remained intact, much to the dismay of Scotland's wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce.

Chasing a challenging target of 170, Scotland's openers Saskia Horley and Megan McColl started brightly, but their momentum was halted by the early dismissals of Horley and McColl. Skipper Bryce also fell cheaply, leaving Scotland in disarray at 23/4.

Priyanaz Chatterji attempted to revive Scotland's chase with a brisk 30, but her efforts were in vain as Sri Lanka's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game. Udeshika Prabodhani emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets, including the crucial scalp of Chatterji.

In the end, Scotland were restricted to 101/7, falling well short of Sri Lanka's total. The victory not only secured Sri Lanka's place in the Women's T20 World Cup but also earned them a spot in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan.

Tags: #Cricket, #T20, #WorldCup, #SriLanka, #Scotland