SCOTS SUFFER HEARTBREAK IN WORLD CUP FINALE

Scotland were edged out by Sri Lanka by three wickets in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford to conclude their T20 World Cup campaign in agonising fashion.

 

Batting first on another sun drenched evening, Scotland made 151-6 with contributions across the order. Sarah Bryce was unbeaten on 47, supported by Darcey Carter (34), Kathryn Bryce (23) and some powerful late hitting from Ailsa Lister (26), which looked a par total at least after Sri Lanka's spinners had tied Scotland down in the middle overs.

 

In reply Sri Lanka flew out the blocks with captain Chamari Athapaththu smashing 33 from 16 balls, but Scotland kept chipping away with regular wickets to keep the game in the balance. They needed seven from Rachel Slater's final over, but she retired injured after three balls in dramatic scenes, leaving Priyanaz Chatterji to finish the over, and Nilakshika Silva slashed the penultimate ball for four to give Sri Lanka the win.

 

Scotland went into the match knowing a win would secure at least fourth place in the group and automatic qualification for the 2028 T20 World Cup, while Sri Lanka still retained outside hopes of qualification for the semifinals.

 

Carter had scored 174 runs in four matches to date, and continued to show that form early in her innings hammering three boundaries down the ground in the opening two overs. Katherine Fraser had missed out against New Zealand, but looked in good touch once again, only to fall to a brilliant catch by Nilakshika at mid off for 12.

 

This brought Kathryn Bryce to the crease, keen to replicate her form on this ground earlier in the tournament when she made a half century against Ireland. A crunching cover drive and confident slog sweep suggested the captain was in the mood, as Scotland reached 45-1 after the powerplay.

 

The wily Sri Lankan attack was doing a good job of tying down the Scots, but Bryce showed her class by smashing opposite number Athapaththu over cover for six and then reverse sweeping her for four. However Kaveesha had the last laugh as she dismissed Bryce for 23 with a brilliant caught and bowled effort. Scotland were 67-2 at halfway with momentum swinging towards Sri Lanka.

 

 

Carter pushed on, passing 200 runs for the T20 World Cup and becoming its highest scorer with a slap through mid-wicket. With Sarah Bryce joining her, another player showing good form across the tournament, Scotland were trying to regain the initiative, but Kaveesha's tight lines were tough to escape. 

 

Scotland needed to kick on, but suffered a blow as Carter edged Dasanayaka behind for 34. Lister brought the hundred up with five overs left, and looked in good touch: first she felled her partner with a powerful drive that knocked Bryce off her feet at the non-strikers end, and then clobbered Kaveesha for four over mid-on. The final two overs brought three wickets, but a glut of runs, with Sarah Bryce bringing up the 150 with a cut for four off the final ball off the innings.

 

Sri Lanka's reply started off in spectacular fashion as Athapaththu, fresh from a hundred against Ireland, launched Gabi Fontenla for six over cover. The 18-year old was undeterred however, and held onto a steepling catch to dismiss Dulani in the next over. However Hasini Perera continued the assault, with Sri Lanka knowing they needed to improve their run rate to keep their qualification hopes alive.

 

Athapaththu was the key wicket for Scotland, and Fraser bowled her for 33 in the sixth over to haul Scotland back into the game, but runs were still flowing freely, as Sri Lanks reached 65-2 at the end of the powerplay.

 

 

The dangerous Hasini was next to go, caught by Gordon off the bowling of Bryce for 23. Fraser then pinned Hansima LBW, and suddenly Sri Lanka were 78-4. The required rate had drifted beyond seven runs per over, as tension rose at Old Trafford.

 

Scotland knew only wickets would keep them in the game, and Bryce took out the dangerous Harshitha for 27 in the thirteenth over. The game was on a knife-edge, and Scotland made another breakthrough as Bryce caught Kaveesha for 18 off Gordon, and the run rate climbed to eight an over.

 

Kaushini swung it back to Sri Lanka after being dropped by Fontenla with two boundaries off Slater in the eighteenth over, but the bowler bit back to have her caught at cover, and it was 135-7. Bryce's nineteenth over went for ten, including another drop, and Sri Lanka needed seven from Slater's final over.

 

Two singles left five required off four, and then a scoop made it three from three. Slater ran in to bowl the fourth ball of the over and then pulled up with a calf issue, and there was a long delay while she was treated, heightening the tension further.

 

Chatterji took responsibility, but the task was too great, and Scotland were left pondering what might have been once again.