Sri Lanka make short work of Scots – win by ten wickets

Player of the Match Kavisha Dilhari being congratulated by her team mates after taking a wicket 

• Eye semi-final spot from Group A in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier

Sri Lanka produced an utterly dominant performance against Scotland to move to the top of Group A in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier with a crushing ten-wicket win at Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Asked to bat first, Scotland had no answers to the Sri Lankan spinners, who accounted for nine of the 10 wickets that fell. Off-spinners Inoka Priyadarshni and Kavisha Dilhari made life difficult for the Scottish lasses who were all at sea against spin as they were bowled out for 94 off 18.2 overs. Sri Lanka knocked the runs off in 10.1 overs without losing a wicket. 

Priyadarshani who won the Player of the Match award in the match against Thailand produced another quality spell to take three wickets in her four overs conceding a mere 11 runs. Dilhari named Player of the Match also made it tough for the Scots picking up four wickets for 13 runs in 3.2 overs.

Sri Lanka opted to field first and the decision reaped rich rewards as the Scotland batters failed to create momentum from the start of their innings. After losing opener Darcey Carter for a duck in the opening over, Scotland kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Lorna Jack top-scored with 24 runs, while captain, Kathryn Bryce, contributed an enterprising 22 off 19 balls (5 fours) but failed to make the most of her promising start.

In reply, skipper Chamari Athapaththu, smashed an unbeaten 59 off 35 balls (10 fours, 1 six) as Sri Lanka cruised past the target using only half the number of overs. The left-hander unleashed a barrage of aggressive strokes from the outset, racing to 41 runs off just 23 balls within the first six overs, ruthlessly dismantling the Scottish bowling attack with seven boundaries and a six. She needed only eight more balls to get to her half-century – the 10th of her T20I career – as Athapaththu kept the foot firmly on the accelerator with a massive boost to their net run rate in sight. 

Her opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne played a supportive role with a composed unbeaten knock of 23 runs off 25 balls, as Sri Lanka cruised to victory with all 10 wickets intact and 59 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka are now poised for a semi-final spot from Group A with matches against Uganda (on ` May) and USA (3 May) to follow next week.

Scores:

Scotland Women 94 (18.1) (Kathryn Bryce 22, Lorna Jack 24, Inoshi Priyadharshani 3/11, Sugandika Kumari 2/27, Kavisha Dilhari 4/13)

Sri Lanka Women 95-0 (10.1) (Vishmi Gunaratne 24*, Chamari Athapaththu 59*)