Kerr took two for 13 with the ball as Sri Lanka set the White Ferns 115 to win, before she produced a crucial 34 from 31 balls to guide her side home.

Georgia Plimmer’s impressive half century proved a perfect platform for New Zealand to secure victory, and Kerr combined with captain Sophie Devine to get them over the line and keep her side’s semi-final hopes alive.

Sri Lanka began their innings brightly, with openers Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu both finding the boundary in the early overs and taking advantage of some loose New Zealand bowling.

But the White Ferns found a crucial early breakthrough in the fourth over as Eden Carson bowled Gunaratne for eight.

Captain Athapaththu combined well with new batter Harshitha Samarawickrama to steady the Sri Lankan ship, with the pair sharing a 48-run stand to build a strong platform for their side.

Athapaththu led the way with 35 off 41 runs until spinner Kerr claimed her first wicket of the afternoon to bowl the Sri Lanka skipper.

That proved a key intervention with Sri Lanka 74 for two, as Samarawickrama fell just five balls later for 18 as she could only chip to extra cover following a superb ball from Leigh Kasperek.

Sri Lanka looked to respond in the final five overs, Kavisha Dilhari producing an impressive Dil-scoop to try and drive up her side’s run rate.

But the White Ferns kept finding wickets at key times, Anushka Sanjeewani (5) became Kasperek’s second victim of the tournament as she looked to hit down the ground but could only find the hands of Devine.

Kerr then struck again for her second wicket of the match, trapping Dilhari (10) leg before as she tried to sweep for the boundary.

That left Sri Lanka reduced to 97 for five but Nilakshika Silva (14 not out) and Ama Kanchana (10 not out) dug in to steer their side home to 115, their highest score of the tournament.

New Zealand were forced to ease their way into their chase, but soon picked up a fast pace through opener Plimmer.

After a slow opening four overs negotiating the Sri Lankan spin attack, the right-hander opened up with boundaries from the first ball of back-to-back overs before she and Suzie Bates both crashed a boundary each in the seventh over to leave the White Ferns 48 without loss.

With New Zealand appearing to get on top of the contest, Sri Lanka then broke the opening partnership when Sachini Nisansala clean bowled Bates for 17.

It was almost a second wicket in quick succession, but Inoshi Priyadharshani was unable to hold onto a shot from Plimmer at short range off her own bowling.

Kerr quickly settled into her innings with the bat, crunching a cover drive for four off just her second ball as New Zealand looked to regain their momentum.

That is exactly what they did, as Kerr and Plimmer combined to comfortably guide their side towards the 100 mark and in sight of victory.

Plimmer notched up an impressive half century before Athapaththu finally got the wicket they needed to dismiss the opener for 53 off 44 balls.

Kerr immediately took up the mantle to drive the White Ferns past 100 with another boundary through point.

Her knock of 34 from 31 balls proved enough for victory in conjunction with captain Devine, who sealed victory with 15 balls to spare via a crunching six.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Sharjah International Stadium, Sharjah.

Sri Lanka 115/5 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 18; Amelia Kerr 2/13, Leigh Kasperek 2/27)

New Zealand 118/2 in 17.3 overs (Georgia Plimmer 53, Amelia Kerr 34; Chamari Athapaththu 1/8, Sachini Nisansala 1/24)

Result: New Zealand win by eight wickets

With thanks to the ICC

Smriti Mandhana (50) and Shafali Verma (43) set the tone, amassing 98 for the first wicket and despite falling in consecutive balls, a thunderous 52 from Harmanpreet Kaur carried India to 172 for three in Dubai.

India defended the highest total of the tournament ruthlessly, bowling Sri Lanka out for 90 as the Lions’ group-stage exit was confirmed following their third successive defeat.

After India opted to bat, Verma assumed the role as early aggressor and reached 2,000 T20I runs in the process, becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone.

Opening partner Mandhana soon joined the party, striking the first six of the game off the final ball of the seventh over to bring up the 50 partnership.

Mandhana then threatened to steal the show, moving past Verma with a couple of gorgeous lofted boundary strokes into the off side before bringing up her 50 off just 36 balls.

But just as India looked to be sailing to a commanding total, the brakes came on their innings courtesy of a quickfire double strike for Sri Lanka.

Just two balls after passing 50, Mandhana was run out by Ama Kanchana when looking to scamper through for a single, paying the price for a slight hesitation halfway down the track.

Verma departed the very next ball, top edging into the hands of Vishmi Gunaratne off the bowling of Chamari Athapaththu.

That brought two new batters to the crease in Jemimah Rodrigues and Kaur who were both offered a reprieve when looking to reassert India’s dominance.

Rodrigues was dismissed for 16, unable to cash in having been dropped just an over prior, but Kaur took full advantage after being given a second life by Inoka Ranaweera on 22.

The Indian skipper smashed her way to 52 off just 27 deliveries for her 13th and fastest T20I half century, bludgeoning a four from the final ball to sign off India’s innings in style.

Hopes of a seismic Sri Lanka chase were dealt a blow with just the second ball when Radha Yadav claimed a stunning catch to remove Gunaratne.

Athapaththu followed in the second over and Harshitha Samarawickrama in the third as the Lions were reduced to 6 for 3.

Kavisha Dilhari (21) and keeper Anushka Sanjeewani (20) offered some resistance, but Sri Lanka fell increasingly behind the rate as India’s spinners wreaked havoc, with the final wicket falling with a ball to spare.

Scores in brief:

India v Sri Lanka, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

India 172/3 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 52, Smriti Mandhana 50; Ama Kanchana, Chamari Athapaththu 1/34)

Sri Lanka 90 all out in 19.5 overs (Kavisha Dilhari 21, Anushka Sanjeewani 20; Arundhati Reddy 3/19, Asha Sobhana <3/19)

Result: India win by 82 runs

With thanks to the ICC

Sri Lanka chose to bat first in Sharjah but struggled to 93 for seven, with Nilakshika Silva top scoring with an unbeaten 29.

Australia showed it was not easy going for either team but could rely on Beth Mooney, who battled through the energy-sapping sun to make 43 not out and see her team home with 5.4 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka needed a positive start against the world number one side, who put the squeeze on from the outset – with 10 balls passing until the first run was scored and Vishmi Gunarathne departing for a duck.

Captain, Chamari Athapathtthu soon followed for just three as Australia successfully reviewed an LBW decision with Ashleigh Gardner claiming her first wicket.

Sri Lanka’s first boundary came as Harshitha Samarawickrama took advantage of a free hit with a four after Australia’s third no ball of the innings.

Australia made some unwanted history with a record fifth no ball as Darcie Brown’s first over cost 12, taking Sri Lanka to 23 for two at the end of the powerplay. They regained control when Sophie Molineux picked up their third LBW wicket of the innings and Sri Lanka lost the second of their two reviews.

Samarawickrama helped push the score to 43 for three at the halfway stage and was reprieved on 20 as Brown put down a catch as she slid in from extra cover.

The wicketkeeper made only three more runs however, as Molineux got her second wicket with a simple caught and bowled on an impressive return to the World Cup stage after injury trouble.

Silva provided some resistance without improving the scoring rate, finishing on 29 not out from 40 balls.

Her 34-run partnership with Anushka Sanjeewani was ended by Megan Schutt, who took two wickets in two balls to tie Shabnim Ismail for the most T20 World Cup wickets with 43 as Sri Lanka posted 93 for seven.

Australia lost captain Alyssa Healy in the opening over of the reply as she was clean bowled by Udeshika Prabodhani.

The gamble to promote Georgia Wareham up the order did not pay off as she was run out thanks to smart fielding from Kavisha Dilhari to leave Australia at 14 for two.

It was left to the uber-calm Mooney to steer the chase and she steered Australia to 62 for three at the halfway stage alongside Gardner.

The partnership was eventually broken at 43 as Gardner skied a shot that Samarawickrama gladly gobbled up, but it only postponed the inevitable.

Mooney ended on 43 not out, as she picked up where she left off in World Cup cricket, having been named Player of the Final in 2023 for her 78 not out in their victory.

Australia too continued their winning form at World Cups with a 12th victory in a row to triumph by six wickets.

Scores in brief

Australia v Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Sri Lanka 93/7 in 20 overs (Nilakshika Silva 29 not out, Harshitha Samarawickrama 23; Megan Schutt 3/12, Sophie Molineux 2/20)

Australia 94/4 in 14.2 overs (Beth Mooney 43 not out, Ellyse Perry 17; Sugandika Kumari 1/16, Udeshika Prabodani 1/19)

Result: Australia won by six wickets

With thanks to the ICC

Playing in Sharjah, a brisk 30 from skipper Fatima Sana helped Pakistan to a total of 116 batting first, before they took advantage of the conditions to stifle Sri Lanka’s chase.

Omaima Sohail 2/17 and Nashra Sandhu 2/15 took the pace off the ball and suffocated Sri Lanka’s batting, making it difficult to find the boundary.

In the end, they managed 84 for nine in reply, with Pakistan up and running in Pool A, where Australia, India and New Zealand all lie in wait.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but lost Gull Feroza in the second over for two as she was caught behind off the bowling of Sugandika Kumari (3/19).

Muneeba Ali tried to attack, even notching the first six of the tournament, but she was Kumari’s second victim for 11.

Chamari Athapaththu then got in on the act, removing Sidra Amin (12) with a return catch as they slipped to 32 for three.

Nida Dar and Omaima (18) tried to rebuild but their 25-run partnership was broken by Kavisha Dilhari, with Pakistan 57 for four at the halfway stage.

The wickets continued to fall, with Nida next to go for 23, closely followed by Tuba Hassan and Aliya Riaz, who went on successive balls from Athapaththu (3/18).

She could not complete the hat-trick, but when Diana Baig became Kumari’s third victim, Pakistan were in a world of trouble at 84 for eight.

Skipper Fatima, stepped up though, smashing a quickfire 30 before she fell in the final over as Pakistan were bowled out for 116 off the final ball of their 20 overs.

In reply, Pakistan made the big breakthrough early when Athapaththu was dismissed by Fatima in the third over, chipping to extra cover as she departed for just six.

Harshitha Samarawickrama followed not long after, clean bowled by Omaima when she tried to play across the line, removed for seven.

Another absolute peach from Omaima got Hasini Perera (8), leaving Sri Lanka 35 for three with the required rate approaching seven-an-over.

Nashra went into the attack and took advantage as Sri Lanka tried to up the run-rate, removing Dilhari (3) and the set Vishmi Gunaratne (20) in consecutive overs.

From there, Sri Lanka were never able to get back in the hunt for the victory, Sadia Iqbal removed Nilakshika Silva for 22, one of her three victims as she kept the pressure on.

Fittingly, Fatima finished the job, taking a wicket in the final over, ending with figures of two for 10 in a comprehensive victory.

Scores in brief

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Pakistan 116 all out in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 30, Nida Dar 23; Chamari Athapaththu 3/18, Sugandika Kumari 3/19, Udeshika Prabodhani 3/20

Sri Lanka 85/9 in 20 overs (Nilakshika Silva 22, Vishmi Gunaratne 20; Sadia Iqbal 3/17, Fatima Sana 2/10, Nashra Sandhu 2/15, Omaima Sohail 2/17

Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs

With thanks to the ICC

Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 23 runs as their total of 140 for seven proved enough, Shorna Akter top scoring with an unbeaten 28 before taking two wickets in the reply.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers came to the fore against Scotland, who were bowled out for 58. Kavisha Dilhari’s 27 settled Sri Lankan nerves in the run chase following a flurry of early wickets.

There are three more warm-up matches tomorrow (Tuesday) before the competition gets underway on October 3.

Shorna shines for Bangladesh

Bangladesh made a solid start with the bat after winning the toss in Dubai, with openers Shathi Rani and Dilara Akter adding 33 before the latter fell for 10 midway through the fourth over.

Sobhana Mostary (15), Nigar Sultana (18) and Taj Nehar (17) each made starts without kicking on, though Shorna Akter provided some late momentum with an unbeaten 28 from 17 balls.

She was supported by Ritu Moni, who made 14 from eight, as Bangladesh made their way to 140 for seven from their 20 overs, with Sadia Iqbal (2/19) the pick of the Pakistan attack.

Muneeba Ali fell in the second over of the run chase and Sidra Amin (10) then departed three balls before the end of the powerplay, which arrived with Pakistan on 38 for two.

Fahima Khatun, who dismissed Sidra, later ran out Nida Dar and clean bowled Iram Javed first ball as Pakistan slipped to 65 for five.

Omaima Sohail kept her side in the hunt with a run-a-ball 33 but she was caught off the bowling of Rabeya Khan (2/29) to signal the end of Pakistan’s hopes and the final wicket fell soon afterwards on 117 with eight balls remaining.

Sri Lanka bowlers impress against Scotland

Sri Lanka will go into their opening group game against Pakistan full of confidence following a five-wicket win over Scotland in their final warm-up match.

Scotland elected to bat first upon winning the toss, but a nightmare start saw them slip to one for three in the first over, with Udeshika Prabodhani (2/3) removing Saskia Horley and Priyanaz Chatterji for ducks either side of Kathryn Bryce being run out first ball.

Ailsa Lister was caught, to leave Scotland on 11 for four as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Sachini Nisansala claiming two for 10 and Inoshi Priyadharshani (1/3), Inoka Ranaweera (1/8) and Ama Kanchana (1/12) picking up a scalp apiece.

Sarah Bryce top-scored with 24 but fell at the start of the 17th over, with only Rachel Slater (10 not out) joining her in double figures as Scotland were dismissed for 58 with an over unused.

Sri Lanka’s reply got off to a stuttering start as wickets fell in each of the opening two overs, with captain Chamari Athapaththu (1) trapped in front by Slater before Vishmi Gunaratne (2) was clean bowled by Kathryn Bryce.

Dilhari then seized control of the chase, compiling a composed 27 from 34 balls before retiring out with the job all but done.

Anushka Sanjeewani and Ama Kanchana completed the job as Sri Lanka got home with 4.3 overs to spare.

Scores in brief

Bangladesh v Pakistan – ICC Academy Ground No.2, Dubai

Bangladesh 140/7 in 20 overs (Shorna Akter 28, Shathi Rani 23; Sadia Iqbal 2/19)

Pakistan 117 all out in 18.4 overs (Omaima Sohail 33, Fatima Sana 17; Marufa Akter 2/15, Shorna Akter 2/16)

Result: Bangladesh win by 23 runs

Sri Lanka v Scotland – The Sevens Stadium, Dubai

Scotland 58 all out in 19 overs (Sarah Bryce 24, Rachel Slater 10 not out; Udeshika Prabodhani 2/3, Sachini Nisansala 2/10)

Sri Lanka 59/5 in 15.3 overs (Kashiva Dilhari 27; Katherine Fraser 1/5, Kathryn Bryce 1/6)

Result: Sri Lanka win by five wickets

With thanks to the ICC

Sri Lanka captain, Chamari Athapaththu, 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 Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night.

Athapaththu’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. Bryce was later named the Player of the Tournament for her excellent all-round turn-out of 177 runs and nine wickets.

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. Katherine Fraser then accounted for Harshita Madavi (8) in the sixth over, leaving Sri Lanka in a spot of bother at 33/2. Kavisha Dilhari (15) added 22 for the third wicket with Athapaththu, before being undone by leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood.

The match then turned on its head thanks to the brilliance of Athapaththu, who found an able ally in Nilakshi De Silva (26 not out, 26 balls, one four, one six). She helped steady the ship at one end as her skipper slowly found her touch before unleashing her typically aggressive batting style.

Athapaththu reached her half-century in 40 balls, landing the milestone with a big six over mid-wicket off Fraser.

After reaching putting her 50 behind her, Athapaththu cut loose and played a series of sensational shots that left Scotland’s bowlers and fielders wilting in her wake. 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.

Athapaththu’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 169/5 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. In 5.5 over mark, they had lost four batters as Sarah Bryce (0) and Darcey Carter (3) also joined the openers in the dugout.

A 40-run partnership between Priyanaz Chatterji (30 not out, 34 balls, four fours, one six) and Lorna Jack (12) 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 101/7.

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.

Scores in brief:

Final:

Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 68 runs

Sri Lanka 169 for 5, 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 102, Nilakshi De Silva 26 not out; Rachel Slater 2-35)

Scotland 101 for 7, 20 overs (Priyanaz Chatterji 30, Rachel Slater 15 not out; Udeshika Prabodhani 3-13)

Player of the Match – Chamari Athapaththu

Player of the Tournament – Kathryn Bryce

With thanks to the ICC

Sri Lanka have joined Scotland as the second qualifier for this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which will be played in Bangladesh from 3 to 20 October. The experienced Sri Lanka side was given a run for their money by hosts, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in defence of their 149-run total in the do-or-die clash in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Sri Lanka will now play Scotland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier final at the same venue on Tuesday, 7 May.

Sri Lanka were put in to bat first at the toss and openers, Vishmi Gunaratne and captain, Chamari Athapaththu, delivered a sound start in the form of a 52-run partnership, brought up in 7.2 overs. Athapaththu (21) threatened to take the game away from the UAE with some big shots, including two consecutive sixes, but allowed the UAE to breathe a sigh of relief when she was dismissed by leg-spinner, Vaishnave Mahesh (2/33).

Gunaratne then added 44 for the second wicket with Harshitha Madavi (24), the partnership was broken by Mahesh, who struck again in the 16^th over. Gunaratne, who went past Kathryn Bryce as the tournament’s leading run scorer during her 45-run innings (180 runs in five innings), was stumped off a wide ball by Esha Oza (2/27). The right-hander hit five fours in her 44-ball innings.

After Gunaratne’s departure, middle-order batters Hasini Perera (15), Kavisha Dilhari (17) and Nilakshi De Silva (18) hit eight boundaries between them in the death overs to take the team to a competitive, 149-run total.

Oza then went on to produce one of the standout innings of the tournament as the UAE gave Sri Lanka a real fight with the bat. She lost her opening partner, Theertha Satish without scoring, in the first over of the chase. Oza then led the second-wicket partnership of 66 runs with Khushi Sharma (22). She added 37 for the third wicket with Kavisha Egodage (16) to keep her team in contention.

Oza played some scintillating shots in her blazing 66 off 44, which included four big sixes as Sri Lanka’s bowlers searched for answers. The Islanders got the much-needed breakthrough when the right-hander was bowled out by Udeshika Prabodhani in the 16^th over with the score at 108. During the course of her breathtaking innings, Oza went past Gunaratne as the tournament’s highest run scorer to date, 189 runs at 47.25.

The captain’s loss derailed the UAE’s chase, the lower-order batters failing to get the required boundaries with Sri Lanka’s bowlers and fielders tightening the screws. The UAE’s innings continued to stutter until the end of their allotted overs, where they managed 134/7.

Athapaththu was the best bowler of the night for Sri Lanka with two wickets for 28 in four overs. Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani and Udeshika Prabodhani took a wicket each.

Scores in brief:

Second semi-final:

Sri Lanka beat UAE by 15 runs

Sri Lanka 149 for 6, 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 45, Harshitha Madavi 24, Chamari Athapaththu 21; Esha Oza 2-27, Vaishnave Mahesh 2-33)

UAE 134 for 7, 20 overs (Esha Oza 66, Khushi Sharma 22; Chamari Athapaththu 2-28)

Player of the Match – Esha Oza

With thanks to the ICC

England were ‘all smiles’ and had nothing to lose when playing the final tour match. Australia had already won the ODI series outright before a single ball was bowled. England started well, until a commentator’s gaff sensed that Sri Lanka’s fielding ’started to fall apart.’ Next ball, England found themselves ‘in deep trouble’ as Sri Lanka’s spinners Dewmi Vihanga (5-fer) and Chamodi Praboda (4-fer) spectacularly nudged Sri Lanka ‘back into the game,’ the hosts winning by a wide margin of 100 runs. Previously England won the IT20 series – please see analysis below, fielding a different skipper for each match.

*Quick and dirty analysis of the IT20 performance that had earlier sealed victory a few days beforehand for England U19’s shows that two of their three top batters played in all four innings during the twenty overs tournament. *Davina Perrin was England U19’s top batter by a wide margin. *Davina Perrin scored most runs (143 runs, 99 balls, 4 innings); with back-to-back match-winning ‘fifties’ scored against both Australia and Sri Lanka; with 2nd highest average strike rate (144) *Returning for match 6, Charis Pavely recorded the highest strike rate during a single match (266) by scoring a match-winning 24* not out from 9 balls: England beating Sri Lanka. *Erin Thomas had 2nd highest average strike rate 120 (from 70runs, 28 balls, 4 innings) and accumulated the second highest total number of runs.

*Turning to bowling, Ava Lee (pictured) was top, taking 8 wickets from 3 matches; scoring one ‘4-fer’ versus Sri Lanka (match 3.) *Best economy in a single match went to Mary Taylor 11/1 vs Sri Lanka (match 6); *Sophia Smale: was second, taking 5 wickets from 3 matches; scoring one ‘3-fer’ vs Australia (match 1); with third best economy in a single match 19/3 vs Australia (match 1.)  *Tilly Corteen-Coleman was third,taking 4 wickets from 3 matches; scoring one ‘3-fer’ vs Australia (match 5); with second best economy in a single match 15/3 vs Australia (match 5.)

Speaking on TV after the match, Sri Lanka’s Head Women’s Coach (Mr Hemantha Devapriya) was delighted to see players making progress to the next level,’ as commentators lauded their home side for finishing ‘head and shoulders’ above England. Devapriya added that before the tournament, Sri Lanka’s U19’s had not played any fifty overs cricket at all. In summary, although England was exceptional, beating both opponents at 20 overs, these same players need to build more resilience as a team when playing 50 overs on England tour duty. This became especially difficult because of England’s player rotation policy.

U19 Women’s Tri-nation Series Results, (20 overs) at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Hambantota, Sri Lanka

28 March: (1st IT20), Sri Lanka 117-6 beat Australia 110-5; by 7 runs <3h14m43s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_ufcLDEOY
29 March: (2nd IT20), England 146 (19.3/20 overs) beat Australia 111-5; by 35 runs <3h22m44s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSUXJ_-pZXQ
30 March: (3rd IT20), Sri Lanka 128-7 beat England 122-7; by 6 runs <3h35m04s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnDuHsRcn0I
1 April: (4th IT20), Australia 133-3 beat Sri Lanka 132-7; by 7 wickets <3h15m07s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6qUqJet6U8

2 April: (5th IT20), England 126-3 (13.3/20 overs) beat Australia 124-9  by 7 wickets <2h53m49s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dieX3ht0Bo4
3 April: (6th IT20), England 127-4 (14.3/20 overs) beat Sri Lanka 126-9  by 6 wickets <3h14m50s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krV0brIRG5I

U19 Women’s Tri-nation Series Results, (50 overs) at the Galle International Cricket Stadium GICS, Sri Lanka

7 April: (1st ODI), Australia 228 (48.5/50 overs) beat Sri Lanka 140 (44/50 overs) by 88 runs<6h51m09s> @URL  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqIrqxGjdQ

8 April: (2nd ODI), Australia 240-8 (45.3/50 overs) beat England 239 (48/50 overs) by 2 wickets <7h12m29s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQLTEjn0Ktc&t=4s

9 April: (3rd ODI), Sri Lanka 226 (48.4/50 overs) beat England 118 (23.3/50 overs) by 108 runs <5h32m45s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZEziG1ubFs

With acknowledgement to Dr Juili Ball (India) for statistical methodology accessed @URL https://femalecricket.com/womens-cricket-stats/24353-who-were-top-performers-in-womens-t20-challenge-2022.html

Playing in 30 degree heat, hosts Sri Lanka looked set to cause an upset after beating both England and Australia by narrow margins in both their opening matches.

Josie Groves played a Skipper’s innings scoring 57 (from 41 balls) to chalk-up England’s first win – beating Australia, partnered by Jodi Grewcock 31 (from 33 balls)

Australia also fought back, beating Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in their return match, leaving the competition wide open with honours even.

England won their remaining three matches, beating Australia (twice) and Sri Lanka (both with five overs to spare); to secure England’s series win.

Davina Perrin (pictured) (133 runs from 4 innings) was England’s top batter, scoring back-to-back winning fifties during what turned out to be ‘must-win’ matches.

With best figures of 4/19, England’s top bowler Ava Lee bagged a total of 7 wickets. Next best was Sophia Smale bagging 5 wickets, with best figures of 3/19.

U19 Women’s Tri-nation Series Results, at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Hanbantota, Sri Lanka

Wednesday 28 March: (1st IT20), Sri Lanka 117-6 (20 ov) beat Australia 110-5(20 ov) by 7 runs <3h14m43s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_ufcLDEOY
Thursday 29 March: (2nd IT20), England 146-10 (19.3 ov) beat Australia 111-5 (20 ov) by 35 runs <3h22m44s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSUXJ_-pZXQ
Friday 30 March: (3rd IT20), Sri Lanka 128-7 (20 ov) beat England 122-7 (20 ov) by 6 runs <3h35m04s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnDuHsRcn0I
Monday 1 April: (4th IT20), Australia 133-3 (20 ov) beat Sri Lanka 132-7 (20 ov) by 7 wickets <3h15m07s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6qUqJet6U8

Tuesday 2 April: (5th IT20),  England 126-3 (13.3 ov) beat Australia 124-9 (20 ov) by 7 wickets <2h53m49s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dieX3ht0Bo4
Wednesday 3 April: (6th IT20), England 127-4 (14.3 ov) beat Sri Lanka 126-9 (20 ov) by 6 wickets <3h14m50s> @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krV0brIRG5I

Remaining U19 Women’s Tri-nation Series Fixtures (50 overs)

England return to action where they take on the same two teams in the two remaining matches of the 50 overs series

Friday 5 April: (1st ODI), Australia 228 (48.5 ov) beat Sri Lanka 140-10 (44 ov) by 88 runs <6h51m09s>  @URL  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqIrqxGjdQ

Sunday 7 April: (2nd ODI), Australia vs England

Tuesday 9 April: (3rd ODI), England vs Sri Lanka

Grace Road, Leicester

NSB’s holiday tip: take a few day’s off and return to find you’ve been appointed the company CEO and awarded a £100k bonus.

In cricketing terms it meant, take over the England captaincy (Heather Knight under the weather) and score one of the memorable hundreds, the fastest ever by an Englishwoman in this format.

Jon Lewis indulged in several changes. At last Bess Heath was allowed to receive her first cap. She shared the celebration with NSB who was reaching her 100th ODI cap. This was her first appearance since her two tons in the Ashes.

The weather insisted on playing its part, so while some of us sheltered from the 22 degree heat elsewhere in the kingdom, the game couldn’t start till 3.40. 31 overs each was the maximum.

England’s irregular Progress

Once more the top-order batting looked shaky. Before Tammy Beaumont was caught at slip in the second over, she was dropped by Harshitha Samarawickrama at mid-wicket, and she and Maia Bouchier had tricky moments agreeing on runs.

By the fifth over Alice Capsey was gone too, beaten by Udeshika Prabodhani’s inswing. She still hasn’t recaptured her best form (18-2).

From there the game took a violent turn. The new captain and Bouchier took the Sri Lankan attack to pieces. In short, they added a mammoth 193 in exactly 20 overs.

Both made batting look ridiculously easy, which some of us well know is not the case. We are now used to seeing slaughter of this kind from NSB, but Bouchier took her chance to show why the selectors were so keen to have her open the innings. Her response to Beaumont’s dismissal was to heave a six in the same over.

Inside two other overs they added 29 runs, hitting the ball where fielders weren’t, or over the top where they couldn’t reach. Hansima Karunaratne unwisely bowled a no-ball; Bouchier’s response was to plop the ball into a bar, and Grace Road has one of the biggest playing-areas in world cricket.

England had proved vulnerable to spin in the T20s. Here it was treated with contempt. The 100 came up in the thirteenth over. And on they went.

They were neck and neck through the nineties. Questions flew around the ground: Would they both make a century? Who would get there first? Could either or both beat Charlotte Edwards’ record of a 70-ball ton?

In the event, it proved only half a climax. NSB sailed past three figures, easily beating CE’s mark, but Bouchier, facing her first chance of outdoing those two great names, fell in the 25th over. She played across the line to Dilhari and was pinned lbw (95/65, 12×4, 2×6), an astonishing innings.

With seven overs left, the remaining batters had no option but to wield the willow. Heath made the most of her short stay: she hit 21 off 14 balls (2×4, 1×6), again confirming the selectors’ judgement (except that she might/should have been included earlier).

So the scorecard had a strangely uneven look: two massive innings, Heath’s encouraging knock and a string of single-figure scores.

The Reply

Kate Cross was given the day off, which allowed England to team up two very different but promising opening bowlers. Lauren Filer is that rare specimen, a fast bowler with a capital F; Mahika Gaur, coming from the other side of the wicket and from a great height, worries batters with swing and lift.

The pair took four wickets between them Filer finishing with 3-30. Both went for five boundaries in their 6-over spells, but that’s perfectly reasonable at this stage of their careers. Filer in particular is bound to be working in the nets on the variations all quick bowlers need in the short-format game.

The Sri Lankan batters had few answers to the problems faced, Hasini Perera top-scoring with 32.

The first change saw Charlie Dean in action. She achieved the big moment, catching Athapaththu in front for only 12. It’s a sign of her team’s frailties that the captain asks for a review every time she has the chance. That’s not selfishness, it’s her knowing the importance of her wicket.

From there Dean went on to complete a splendid 5-fer, her first at his level. Who needs Ecclestone? (Well, England may well do in the near future!). Dean’s figures: 6-0-31-5, and some of those five came close to perfection. Sarah Glenn got in on the act to capture the ninth wicket – yet another lbw for her – and Filer was recalled to blow the last candle out.

The Sri Lankan management will seek to exploit all the plusses it can from the series. The only way the batters can recreate the challenges of England’s quicks is to invite men and boys into the nets to offer similar pace. Their weakness against spin is harder to explain. When spin dominates vast tracts of the sub-continent, why have they found it so insoluble in England?

The hunt must be on for more talented players of every sort to strengthen the elite squad. There must be one or two youngsters around who can bowl faster than Perera.

Scores:

England 273-8 (RR 8.80)
Sri Lanka 112 (24.5 overs)
England win by 161 runs

Teams

England: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Amy Jones (w-k), Alice Davidson-Richards, Bess Heath*, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur
*debut

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (w-k), Oshadi Ranasinghe, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera

Umpires: Anna Harris, James Middlebrook

Afterthoughts

Several changes in England’s team – at last! Would it have harmed anyone if Heath had been offered the gloves? Ah well, Amy Jones did claim her nine wickets in far less than the planned 150-over series. She took two beauties off Dean today.

Does a player gain a hidden advantage with a nickname? ‘The Mighty Boosh’.

It wasn’t a big crowd. The weather was unfavourable, but still begs the question of whether England can attract consistent support beyond the Ashes. My view: the more the Ashes are humongified (PR-speak in action) by the ECB and the media, the less will be the following for other series.

In the first over of the Sri Lankan innings Katherine Sciver-Brunt wasn’t impressed by Filer’s target-area; she’s not bringing the stumps into play, was the message. The batters may have been glad she didn’t.

So ends a memorable International summer in England.