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IRELAND LOOKING TO USE SRI LANKAN EXPERIENCE FOR FIRST ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP WIN

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Media release

  • Ireland still searching for first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup success
  • Ireland got the better of Sri Lanka in a bilateral series in 2024
  • Sri Lanka looking to finish on a high after defeat to the West Indies dented their semi-final chances

Ireland head to Bristol with a major objective in mind, a first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory.

And in Sri Lanka, they are up against an opponent they know well, even if the world’s seventh-ranked side go into the game as favourites.

Ireland, ranked two places further back in ninth, opened their campaign with a frustrating defeat to Scotland, but have looked much improved in their last two outings.

They pushed England hard in Southampton and then lost by just four runs to reigning champions New Zealand in a heart-breaking defeat.

And as they prepare to take on a Sri Lanka team who they have faced regularly down the years, including in a tour of Ireland in 2024 when the teams split the T20I series with Ireland taking the ODI series, Leah Paul is hoping that experience can help her side.

She said: “Sri Lanka is a team that we have had success against in the last few years and it’s a team we know relatively well. If we can keep progressing in the areas we want to improve on from the last couple of game we believe we can put in a good performance and get our first-ever World Cup win.

“We pride ourselves on our resilience so hopefully we can stick together and have each other’s backs for the last two games.

“We’ve definitely picked up a good few learnings, especially after the games against England and New Zealand. In the batting department, we want to build those partnerships in the middle period and then trying to contain with the ball in the middle overs.”

They face a Sri Lankan team who saw their semi-final hopes severely dented by defeat to the West Indies in their last game.

A brilliant chase against New Zealand had put them in a reasonable position to crack the top two in the group and make the last four.

But a five-wicket loss in Bristol, in which Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 98, means that they are now underdogs to make it through.

For coach Jamie Siddon, even if qualification now looks a long shot, it is important to finish the group stages on a winning note, with this game against Ireland, followed by a final game against Scotland to come.

He said: “We'll get over the disappointment of the West Indies quickly and turn our attention to Ireland. It's a massive game for us.

“We cannot roll over in that game. We need to put our best team on the park. We need to play really well and get a win in that game and then prepare really well for Scotland because they're a great team.”