By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka Women did turn a heady corner by qualifying for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh after by overriding the UAE by 15 runs in the second semi-final of the Qualifier on Sunday, 5 May.

Sri Lanka joined Scotland as the two teams to head to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 from the Qualifier tournament in Abu Dhabi with the duo now meeting in the qualifying final today.

Taking first lease, Sri Lanka Women ran up a formidable 149 for 6 off 20 overs with opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne once again thick in the runs with a run a ball 45 with 5 boundaries and skipper Chamari Athapaththu equal to the task with a run a ball 21 with back to back sixes and a boundary in adding 48 for the first wicket in the power play overs. It was the ideal start further enhanced by Harshitha Madavi making 24 off 27 with Nilakshi de Silva 18 and Kavisha Dilhari 17 propping up the score to solid proportions.

Despite a brave effort the UAE lasses 134 for 7 off 20 was not good enough as the Lankan lasses prevailed with UAE skipper Esha Oza’s scintillating 44 off 66 (4×5, 2×4) turning out to be a valiant effort in that lost cause.