Women’s T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka beat Irish to stay in semifinals

Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 2, Bristol

Ireland 130-5 (20 overs): Lewis 59, Cover 28*; De Silva 1-12

Sri Lanka 131-4 (15.3 overs): Athapathu 106*, Dulaney 20; Prendergast 1-22

Sri Lanka won by nine wickets

Scorecard. table.

Chamari Athapathu’s brilliant unbeaten 106 kept Sri Lanka alive in their World Cup hopes with a nine-wicket victory over Ireland.

Ireland slumped to 18-3 in a sun-drenched Bristol with captain Gabby Lewis (59) and Leigh Paul (20) putting on a 66-run stand to help their side to a total of 130-5.

Sri Lanka captain Athapathu scored his best World Cup score, and highest so far in the tournament, off just 61 balls, as victory was assured at 134-1 with 4.3 overs to spare.

The Lions, who lead by four points, need to beat Scotland on Friday and hope results elsewhere go their way to securing a top-two spot in Group 2 and a place in the semi-finals.

Ireland have now lost 21 of their World Cup matches and the bottom side end their campaign against the West Indies on Saturday.