Sri Lanka Keep Semi-final Hopes Alive with Thrilling Win Over Scotland

MANCHESTER (Web Desk) – Sri Lanka kept their Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive after edging Scotland by three wickets in a thrilling Group B clash at Old Trafford.

Batting first, Scotland posted a competitive 151-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Sarah Bryce top-scored with a brisk 47 off 33 balls, while Darcey Carter contributed 34 to help her side set a challenging target.

Sri Lanka made an aggressive start to the chase, led by captain Chamari Athapaththu, who blasted 33 off just 16 deliveries, including six fours and a six. However, her dismissal by Katherine Fraser sparked a tense contest.

Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 27 and Hasini Perera added 23, but Sri Lanka slipped to 118-6, leaving Scotland on the verge of a famous upset.

Nilakshi de Silva played a vital unbeaten knock of 21 to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt before Sugandika Dasanayaka sealed a dramatic victory by chopping the penultimate ball of the match to the boundary.

The win lifted Sri Lanka to third place in Group B with three victories, but their qualification hopes remain dependent on other results. They now need the West Indies to suffer a heavy defeat against Ireland and England to beat New Zealand for a place in the semi-finals on net run-rate.