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Ireland are set to host Sri Lanka in a two-match Women’s T20I series, beginning on August 11 at the Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin. Both matches of the T20I series will be held at this venue, followed by a three-match ODI series between the two teams.
Sri Lanka riding high on recent successes
Sri Lanka Women enter the series with strong momentum, having achieved significant successes in recent months. They secured victory in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, followed by a historic triumph in the Asia Cup, where they defeated India to claim their first-ever title in the competition. This recent run of form makes Sri Lanka a formidable opponent for the Irish side.
Ireland aiming to challenge Sri Lanka’s form
Ireland, meanwhile, also showed promise in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, putting up commendable performances. As they prepare to take on a high-flying Sri Lankan team, the Irish Women will be looking to leverage home advantage and build on their recent successes to challenge their in-form opponents in what promises to be an exciting series.
Sri Lanka’s top-choice playing XI for the Women’s T20I series against Ireland:
Vishmi Gunaratne
- Strength: A promising young batter with a strong technique and the ability to build innings.
- Role: Opening or top-order batter who can anchor the innings and set a solid foundation for the team.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
- Strength: A consistent middle-order batter known for her calmness under pressure and ability to rotate the strike.
- Role: Key middle-order batter, responsible for stabilizing the innings and accelerating when needed.
Hasini Perera
- Strength: An aggressive left-handed batter with a natural flair for attacking cricket.
- Role: Top-order batter who can take on bowlers early in the innings, setting an aggressive tone for the team.
Anushka Sanjeewani (wk)
- Strength: A reliable wicketkeeper and a handy lower-order batter with good finishing skills.
- Role: Wicketkeeper-batter, providing stability in the lower order and ensuring strong glove work behind the stumps.
Kavisha Dilhari
- Strength: A versatile all-rounder with effective off-spin bowling and the ability to contribute valuable runs in the lower middle order.
- Role: All-rounder who can provide crucial breakthroughs with her spin and add depth to the batting lineup.
Nilakshi de Silva
- Strength: A dependable middle-order batter with the ability to play both aggressive and defensive roles depending on the match situation.
- Role: Middle-order batter, tasked with guiding the innings during the middle overs and playing a key role in partnerships.
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Udeshika Prabodhani
- Strength: A seasoned left-arm seamer with the ability to swing the ball and trouble batters with her accuracy.
- Role: Opening bowler, leading the attack with the new ball and aiming to make early breakthroughs.
Sugandika Kumari
- Strength: A left-arm spinner known for her control and ability to tie down batters with economical spells.
- Role: Frontline spinner, expected to maintain pressure in the middle overs and pick up key wickets.
Sachini Nisansala
- Strength: An emerging left-arm spinner with potential to deceive batters with her flight and turn.
- Role: Supporting spinner who can complement the primary spinners and provide variety in the bowling attack.
Kaushini Nuthyangana
- Strength: A young player with quick reflexes and developing batting skills.
- Role: Backup wicketkeeper and lower-order batter, offering flexibility in team composition and providing depth in the lineup.
Achini Kulasuriya
- Strength: A right-arm fast bowler with the ability to generate pace and bounce, troubling batters with her aggressive style.
- Role: Fast bowler, part of the pace attack, responsible for maintaining pressure and taking wickets in the middle and death overs.
Note: Athapaththu will not feature in the T20Is due to her commitments in The Hundred
