Sri Lanka book semi-final berth with third consecutive win

Vishmi Gunaratne who top scored for Sri Lanka Women with career best 73* drives for runs

Hasini Perera helped Vishmi Gunaratne in partnership of 65 

• ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier
• Gimhani becomes youngest Sri Lankan to make debut in Women’s T20I

Sri Lanka Women led by versatile all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu booked their semi-final berth in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier with a comprehensive 67-run win over Uganda Women in a Group A match played at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

It was Sri Lanka’s third win in as many matches and it ensured them of a semi-final place from Group A which they head with three wins and six points with a game in hand against USA on 3 May.

Winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka posted a total of 154-4 based on two half-century partnerships involving Player of the Match Vishmi Gunaratne who went onto score a career best 73* off 64 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes).

Gunaratne and Athapaththu put on 50 for the first wicket off 46 balls with Athapaththu’s contribution being 24. After Harshitha Samarawickrama was run out for seven, Hasini Perera joined Gunaratne in another stand worth 65 off 51 balls that saw Sri Lanka to their final total.

Uganda’s innings never got going from the inception as they lost the first six wickets for 59, and it was only a gallant knock of 36 off 32 balls (5 fours, 1 six) from Prosscovia Alako that saw them to a total of 87.

The Ugandan batting was undone by spinners Inoka Ranaweera, Kavisha Dilhari and debutant Shashini Gimhani, each of whom took two wickets.

Gimhani at 15 years and 144 days became the youngest player to represent Sri Lanka in a Women’s T20I match surpassing the record set by Vishmi Gunaratne at the age of 16 years and 149 days.

Gimhani’s first ball on debut was a wide, but off the third ball she picked up her maiden wicket having Kevin Awino caught behind by Sanjeewani for 3. She conceded eight runs in her first over and then bowled a maiden in her second and ended up taking 2/23.

Scores: Sri Lanka Women 154-4 (20) (Vishmi Gunaratne 73*, Chamari Athapaththu 24, Hasini Perera 30)

Uganda Women 87 (19.2) (Prosscovia Alako 36, Inoka Ranaweera 2/10, Shashini Gimhani 2/23, Kavisha Dilhari 2/27)