Sri Lanka down Scotland in a dramatic fashion but WC semifinal hopes hang in the balance

Sri Lanka pulled off a dramatic three-wicket win over Scotland at the Old Trafford in Manchester but their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal hopes hang in the balance.

Put into bat, Scotland had made a fast start to their innings but scoring slowed as soon as they were out of the powerplay, and they wobbled several times on their way to 151 for six.

Sri Lanka then outpaced them early in the chase before Scotland applied dot ball pressure and took wickets at key times. Sri Lanka needed seven runs to win in the final over, while an injury to bowler Rachel Slater with three balls to go added to the drama.

Priyanaz Chatterji was brought in to bowl the last three deliveries but could not prevent Sri Lanka getting over the line for their third win of the tournament, a new record for the team.

As well as a win, Sri Lanka were chasing a big net run rate swing to keep their semifinal hopes alive and so put Scotland into bat.

Sarah Bryce props up Scotland

The Wildcats seemed perfectly happy to set a total as Darcey Carter continued her fruitful run-making. Her opening partner Katherine Fraser played one of the shots of the game as she lofted the ball back over Mithali Ayodhya’s head, only to be dismissed for 12 the very next ball as Nilakshika Silva took a stunning low catch.

Sarah Bryce struck an unbeaten 47 to prop up the Scotland score against Sri Lanka in their Women’s T20 World Cup in Manchester. Pics: ICC/Getty Images

The good catches kept on coming for Sri Lanka as Bryce eyed a big shot but instead was expertly caught by the bowler Kavisha Dilhari to depart for a run-a-ball 23.

Scotland reached the halfway stage at 67 for two, but Carter’s early impetus gave way to hesitancy, and she was eventually dismissed for 34 from 36.

This time it was wicketkeeper Kaushani Nuthyangana’s turn to take a fantastic catch, reacting quickly to a nick from Carter as Sugandika Kumari got her wicket.

Dilhari (1/19) almost had a second, but Nuthyangana missed a tough chance, as a nick from Ailsa Lister on 10 hit her gloves and then her helmet.

Nimasha Meepage conceded three boundaries in the 18th over to get Scotland back on track, but they soon faltered again as a 53-run partnership between Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister ended.

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Lister was run out on 26 by Silva, with Priyanaz Chatterji falling the same way off the very next ball. Pippa Sproul was then bowled by Ayodhya (2/34) for the second duck of the innings as a stoic Sarah Bryce ended on 47 not out with Scotland posting 151 for six.

Chamari continues with good form

In response, Chamari Athapaththu continued the good form that had seen her crash a century against Ireland in the previous match.

For the first two overs, all the runs came off her bat, including taking youngster Gabriella Fontenla for 18 runs with exemplary shot-making.

Fontenla recovered well to hold onto the high catch from Imesha Dulani as Rachel Slater made the breakthrough.

Hasini Perera followed Athapaththu’s lead as Sri Lanka brought up their fifty off 28 balls, but the skipper’s stand ended in the next over as Katherine Fraser bowled the opener for 33 from 16 balls with Sri Lanka at 57 for two.

Scotland were able to keep Sri Lanka needing just above a run a ball before Kathryn Bryce took a crucial wicket, dismissing Perera for 23, as Kirstie Gordon held on to a powerfully struck ball.

The squeeze was firmly applied when Hansima Karunaratne was given out LBW for Fraser’s second wicket before Samarawickrama was caught down low by Chatterji for 27 as Sri Lanka slipped to 102 for five in the 13th over.

The match remained finely poised, although Sri Lanka were able to give themself breathing room with boundaries off every other over.

Gordon then had Dilhari caught for 18 and her final over stifled Sri Lanka’s scoring as the run rate went up to nine an over with three sets to go.

Nuthyangana turned the pressure back on Scotland as she was dropped over the head of Fontenla with the ball racing for the first of two boundaries.

But she was then easily caught by Lister for 12 as the game moved back in Scotland’s favour.

Fontenla put down a tough chance from Silva, who had been the match winner against New Zealand, as Sri Lanka needed seven off the final over, which they secured with a four after a delay for Slater’s injury.

Sri Lanka now face a nervy wait to see if they can qualify, they sit behind the West Indies, who play Ireland in Bristol on Saturday, on net run rate. New Zealand, who are two points behind, are also ahead on net run rate, as they face England at the Oval.

Brief score: Scotland 151 for 6 in 20 overs (Sarah Bryce 47 not out, Darcey Carter 34; Mithali Ayodhya 2/34, Kavisha Dilhari 1/19) lost to Sri Lanka 154 for 7 in 19.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 33, Harshitha Samarawickrama 27; Katherine Fraser 2/25, Kathryn Bryce 2/28).