Sri Lanka Defeat Scotland By Three Wickets To Keep Semi-final Hopes Alive

Sri Lanka kept their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final hopes alive with a three-wicket win over Scotland at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester. Sugandika Kumari hit the winning boundary off the penultimate ball after Rachel Slater was forced off injured with three balls remaining and three runs needed.

Scotland made 151 for six after being put in to bat, with Sarah Bryce scoring 47 not out and Darcey Carter making 34. Sri Lanka replied with 154 for seven in 19.5 overs, as Chamari Athapaththu struck 33 off 16 balls and Harshitha Samarawickrama made 27.

Scotland’s innings

Scotland began quickly, but their scoring slowed after the powerplay and they lost wickets at key times. Katherine Fraser hit a strong shot over Mithali Ayodhya’s head, then fell for 12 the next ball. Nilakshika Silva took a low catch, while Kavisha Dilhari removed Bryce for 23.

Darcey Carter gave Scotland early momentum before reaching 34 from 36 balls. Wicketkeeper Kaushani Nuthyangana took a sharp catch to end her stay. A 53-run stand between Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister then lifted Scotland, before Lister was run out on 26 and Priyanaz Chatterji went the same way next ball.

Pippa Sproul was bowled by Ayodhya for a duck, leaving Sarah Bryce unbeaten on 47 as Scotland finished on 151 for six. Ayodhya took 2 for 34, while Dilhari returned figures of 1 for 19.

Sri Lanka’s chase

Athapaththu kept up the form that brought her a century against Ireland in the previous match. She scored all the runs in the first two overs for Sri Lanka and hit Gabriella Fontenla for 18 runs. Fontenla then held a high catch to dismiss Imesha Dulani and give Slater the breakthrough.

Sri Lanka reached 50 in 28 balls, but Scotland stayed in the contest. Katherine Fraser bowled Athapaththu for 33 as Sri Lanka fell to 57 for two. Kathryn Bryce then removed Perera for 23, and Fraser later had Hansima Karunaratne LBW before Samarawickrama was caught by Chatterji for 27.

Sri Lanka slipped to 102 for five in the 13th over, but they found enough boundaries to stay close. Kathryn Bryce had Dilhari caught for 18, and her final over raised the asking rate. Nuthyangana added pressure after being dropped, before Lister caught her for 12. Sri Lanka needed seven from the last over and got there after Slater’s injury delay.

Net run rate picture

Sri Lanka now wait to see if they can qualify. They sit behind the West Indies on net run rate, with the West Indies set to play Ireland in Bristol on Saturday. New Zealand are two points behind Sri Lanka, but are also ahead on net run rate before facing England at The Oval.