Sri Lanka’s campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup came to an end on Friday. Despite beating Scotland with a ball to spare to register their third win of the tournament, Sri Lanka did not have enough points to progress to the semi-finals. Nevertheless, a third-place finish in the group was a commendable achievement given how poorly they had fared in global events in recent years.
A top-three finish also secured direct qualification for the next Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, to be hosted by Pakistan.
Looking back, Sri Lanka will rue a handful of moments that ultimately denied them a historic first semi-final appearance at a global event. It was so near, yet so far. Those 90 minutes in Bristol on a green surface virtually ended their campaign. Having lost a crucial toss and been asked to bat, Sri Lanka’s top order crumbled, losing three wickets inside the first two overs. From there, they were always chasing the game. A more measured approach against the new ball, rather than looking to force the pace, may have served them better.
After the defeat, the players were devastated because they knew they were the better side, having beaten the West Indies in their own backyard earlier this year. Captain Chamari Atapattu admitted she would regret the loss for the rest of her life, believing it had cost her what was probably her final opportunity to play in a World Cup semi-final. She, however, led from the front throughout the tournament, scoring briskly and producing a magnificent century against Ireland that was among the finest innings of the competition.
The victory over defending champions New Zealand was the result that made Sri Lanka believe. They produced a superb all-round performance to topple one of the tournament favourites and by all accounts, should have gone on to beat the West Indies as well.
Nilakshika Silva was outstanding, producing match-winning cameos against New Zealand and Scotland to steer Sri Lanka home. She was also the team’s finest fielder, taking sharp catches and effecting crucial run-outs with direct hits. Unfortunately, the rest of the side struggled in the field, with costly lapses proving expensive at key moments.
Some of the senior players failed to deliver. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne endured disappointing tournaments, with Vishmi eventually losing her place midway through the campaign. Kavisha Dilhari, meanwhile, emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s most valuable performers. Dependable with both off-spin and leg-spin, she pulled off spectacular catches and chipped in with vital runs whenever the team found itself under pressure.
Mithali Ayodhya looks destined for bigger things. Her slingy action unsettled several batters and marked her out as one of the tournament’s exciting young prospects. Behind the stumps, Kaushani Nuthyangana was a bundle of energy, impressing with her sharp glovework and infectious enthusiasm.
Everyone who watched Sri Lanka closely during this campaign left convinced of one thing: this is a team on the verge of something special. The semi-finals may have slipped away this time, but for the first time in many years, Sri Lankan women’s cricket has given its supporters genuine reason to believe.
