Atapattu helps SL seal T20 WC Qualifier final

Sri Lanka Team players and officials celebrate with the Trophy

Sri Lanka Captain, Chamari Atapattu, scored a scintillating century, the second of her T20I career, to spearhead her side’s comprehensive, 68-run victory over Scotland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier final at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Tuesday.
Atapattu’s dazzling 102 came from just 63 deliveries including 13 boundaries and four sixes. Her exceptional performance was accompanied by a brilliant bowling display by Sri Lanka’s bowlers, as their opponents failed to match to their might in the final.
Scotland suffered a big blow on the eve of the match, when their in-form Captain, Kathryn Bryce was ruled out of the final due to a low-grade abductor muscle strain.
Scotland’s stand-in Captain, Sarah Bryce, won the toss and elected to field first. They got the breakthrough in the third over of the innings when the prolific 18-year-old opener, Vishmi Gunaratne, was dismissed for nine runs.
The match then turned on its head thanks to the brilliance of Atapattu, who found an able ally in Nilakshi de Silva (26 not out, 26 balls, one four, one six).
Atapattu reached her half century in 40 balls, landing the milestone with a big six over mid-wicket off Fraser.
The big-hitter needed just 20 more balls to reach her century (13 fours, four sixes). She was eventually dismissed by Rachel Slater for an outstanding 102, her wicket bringing an end to an excellent, 106-run, fourth-wicket stand.
Atapattu’s innings was the only century of the tournament and by the time she finished, the seasoned campaigner had left behind Gunaratne as the tournament’s top run-scorer – 226 runs in six innings at 45.20.
Sri Lanka posted a daunting 169 for five at the end of their allotted overs, the second highest team total of the tournament.
Scotland were never in the game with the bat after losing openers Sasika Horley (10) and Megan McColl (6) in the space of six balls.
A 40-run partnership between Priyanaz Chatterji and Lorna Jack provided some respectability to the Scotland chase, however, the target was well out of their reach by then as they finished their 20-over quota at 101 for seven.
This win sees Sri Lanka join Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan in Group ‘A’ of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup 2024 as Qualifier 1.
Scotland will feature in Group ‘B’ alongside hosts Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies as Qualifier 2. ICC