Sri Lanka hold nerve in face of Esha Oza onslaught to seal T20 World Cup berth

Sri Lanka Women overcame a spirited run-chase from United Arab Emirates in their World Cup Qualifier semi-final in Abu Dhabi, to seal their place in the main event in Bangladesh later this year, as well as a place in Tuesday’s final, where they will face fellow qualifiers, Scotland.

After being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 149 for 6 in an innings that was well anchored by Vishmi Gunnaratne,  who top-scored with 45 from 44 balls.

Gunaratne added 52 for the first wicket with Chamari Athapaththu, who made a run-a-ball 21, and when she fell at 106 for 3 at the end of the 16th over, the middle order picked up the tempo to add 43 in the final three overs. Nilakshika Silva was stumped off the final ball of the innings after three fours in a 10-ball 18.

In reply, Inoshi Fernando gave Sri Lanka a huge lift by bowling Theertha Satish for a duck at the end of her first over, but UAE were not fazed, least of all Esha Oza,  whose 66 from 44 balls included two fours and four sixes, and gave her team real belief that an upset was on the cards.

She was given vital support by Khushi Sharma (22 from 23) and Kavisha Egodage (16 from 20), but after Athapaththu had broken through to end Egodage’s stay, Udeshika Prabodhani bowled Oza in her next over, before the run-out of Heena Hotchandani completed a collapse of 3 for 7 in 12 balls.

Athapaththu added a second wicket to remove Samaira Dharnidharka for 5, and though Vaishnave Mahesh kept UAE fighting to the end with 13 not out from eight balls, the asking-rate was already too much.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women149 for 6 in 20 overs  (Vishmi Gunaratne 45, Chamari Athapaththu 21, Harshitha Samarawickrema 24; Kavisha Egodage 1-28, Vaishnave Mahesh 2-33, Esha Oza 2-27) beat United Arab Emirates Women 134 for 7 in 20 overs  (Esha Oza 66, Khushi Sharma 22; Inoshi Priyadarshani 1-29, Sugandika Kumari 1-21, Udeshika Prabodhani 1-31, Chamari Athapaththu 2-28) by 15 runs

(Cricinfo)