Sri Lanka overcome Scotland in final-over thriller

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Sri Lanka overcame spirited Scotland in a final-over thriller at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 to hang on to the slimmest of hopes to qualify for the semi-finals from Group B.

Scorecard

With Sarah Bryce leading a late charge, Scotland posted a fighting 151/6. While captain Chamari Athapaththu gave Sri Lanka a blazing start, they recovered a mid-innings wobble to win by three wickets and a ball to spare.

It was their highest successful chase at the Women's T20 World Cup and also took them to three victories in a single edition for the very first time.

The result helped Sri Lanka climb to No.3 in Group B. While group leaders England have already qualified for the semi-finals, the Asian side is locked in battle for the second place with West Indies and New Zealand.

Put into bat, Scotland got past the 150-mark mainly due to the late heroics by Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister.

Scotland's leading run-scorer at the tournament, Darcey Carter (34 off 36), had helped them to a watchful start. But once Sri Lanka's slower bowlers were brought in, the boundaries dried up and the scoring rate stalled.

After putting up 67/2 in the first 10 overs, Scotland garnered 87 in the second half. A 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket by Lister and Sarah Bryce helped them turn the tide. Lister struck four fours for a quickfire 26.

Even though Scotland lost three wickets in a clump -- from 138/4 to 146/6 -- Sarah Bryce continued to press on. She finished with a 33-ball 47, which was studded with six fours, including a sweetly-timed cover drive for four to finish the innings off in style.

For their part, Sri Lanka kept up the intensity with the ball and in the field.

While Mithali Ayodhya finished with two wickets, Kavisha Dilhari stood out with 1/19 in her four overs. They were alert in the field and effected two run outs, including Nilakshika Silva's direct hit to dismiss Lister, towards the end.

Going into the chase, Sri Lanka were aware that they not only had to win, but knock off the runs in quick time to improve their net run rate and put pressure on West Indies and New Zealand for a semi-final place.

And Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu, who had announced a return to form with an unbeaten century in the previous match, came out all guns blazing. She struck six fours and a six for 33 runs off just 16 balls. 

The Asian side scored 65 in powerplay, their highest at this tournament, but lost Athapaththu in the sixth over, clean bowled to Katherine Fraser.

With Athapaththu back in the pavilion, Scotland sensed a chance and kept punching back with wickets at regular intervals. Fraser, Kathryn Bryce, and Rachel Slater chipped in with two wickets each to keep Scotland in the hunt.

After being reduced to 118/6 in 15 overs, the Sri Lankan lower order, anchored by Nilakshika Silva (21 not out), held their nerve. The match went down to the final over, and in a setback for Scotland, Slater cramped up and could not complete her spell. 

With nerves jangling, Sugandika Kumari took her team over the finish line with four past the short third region.

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