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06/23 13:32 CDT Sharp rescues New Zealand and Athapaththu thumps Ireland at
Women's T20 World Cup
Sharp rescues New Zealand and Athapaththu thumps Ireland at Women's T20 World
Cup
BRISTOL, England (AP) --- Defending champion New Zealand lived to fight another
day at the Women's Twenty20 World Cup after Scotland was overcome by six
wickets on Tuesday.
Reaching the semifinals was still a long shot; New Zealand must top unbeaten
England on Saturday at The Oval and hope the West Indies drop points.
In the second match of the Bristol doubleheader, Sri Lanka captain Chamari
Athapaththu hit the eighth century in tournament history in a win over Ireland
just two days after saying she felt like "a failure as a captain" following a
defeat to the West Indies.
Athapaththu keeps semifinal hopes alive Athapaththu is a trailblazer for Sri Lanka, playing at her 10th T20 World Cup, and used to spearheading her side's hopes. But scores of 4, 27, and 2 and then downgrading herself drew only widespread sympathy. Ireland bore the brunt of Athapaththu's rebound, a magnificent 106 not out in Sri Lanka's winning 134-1. She sent the first delivery past mid-off to the fence and preyed on poor bowling. She scored 50 off 32 balls and needed only 26 more to complete her first World Cup hundred and fourth in T20s, which included 76 off boundaries. Of course, Athapaththu hit the winning runs from her 17th boundary, and celebrated a massive Sri Lanka win by nine wickets with 4.3 overs remaining. "I got out early last game. I was disappointed about that but we won today and that's what matters to me as a player, as a captain," Athapaththu said. "I just played my natural game, I always attack. I tried my best to do my best." Ireland, still trying to win its first World Cup match, lost three wickets cheaply in the powerplay but fashioned a comeback thanks to captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul. Lewis scored a century when Ireland beat Sri Lanka for the first time in 2024 and made 59 off 50 balls here when she was bowled by Athapaththu.
New Zealand too Sharp for Scotland Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday pulled New Zealand out of 26-3 in a wretched powerplay with a partnership of 101 that wasn't broken until victory was only five runs away. Sharp was the aggressor and out for a 43-ball 62, her career-best T20 score, and Halliday was unbeaten on 41 for New Zealand to reach 132-4 with 10 balls to spare. "What a special knock from Sharp," New Zealand captain Melie Kerr said. "She has the potential to be one of New Zealand's best ever and the best in the world." Scotland was eyeing a 150 total but was pulled back to 131-7 in the last six overs by the bowling of Sophie Devine, Nensi Patel, Bree Illing and Kerr. Made to bat first in its first international against New Zealand, Scotland got a flying start from opener Darcey Carter. She reached 50 off 37 balls, and two more dropped catches by New Zealand --- its 12th and 13th in four games --- had Scotland cruising. Then Devine's first over of medium pace netted two wickets, Scotland was squeezed and Kerr, a victim of one drop, returned in the 19th with a double wicket maiden and finished with 3-17. Carter was stranded on 72 not out. New Zealand made the 132 target look towering when it was three down in the powerplay and Halliday was lucky her edge only grazed the fingertips of wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce. Halliday didn't grab a boundary until the 14th over, content to let Sharp lead. But they accelerated after the 14th over by taking 12, 12 and 12 off the next three overs. Later Tuesday was Australia vs. Pakistan. ___ AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Athapaththu keeps semifinal hopes alive Athapaththu is a trailblazer for Sri Lanka, playing at her 10th T20 World Cup, and used to spearheading her side's hopes. But scores of 4, 27, and 2 and then downgrading herself drew only widespread sympathy. Ireland bore the brunt of Athapaththu's rebound, a magnificent 106 not out in Sri Lanka's winning 134-1. She sent the first delivery past mid-off to the fence and preyed on poor bowling. She scored 50 off 32 balls and needed only 26 more to complete her first World Cup hundred and fourth in T20s, which included 76 off boundaries. Of course, Athapaththu hit the winning runs from her 17th boundary, and celebrated a massive Sri Lanka win by nine wickets with 4.3 overs remaining. "I got out early last game. I was disappointed about that but we won today and that's what matters to me as a player, as a captain," Athapaththu said. "I just played my natural game, I always attack. I tried my best to do my best." Ireland, still trying to win its first World Cup match, lost three wickets cheaply in the powerplay but fashioned a comeback thanks to captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul. Lewis scored a century when Ireland beat Sri Lanka for the first time in 2024 and made 59 off 50 balls here when she was bowled by Athapaththu.
New Zealand too Sharp for Scotland Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday pulled New Zealand out of 26-3 in a wretched powerplay with a partnership of 101 that wasn't broken until victory was only five runs away. Sharp was the aggressor and out for a 43-ball 62, her career-best T20 score, and Halliday was unbeaten on 41 for New Zealand to reach 132-4 with 10 balls to spare. "What a special knock from Sharp," New Zealand captain Melie Kerr said. "She has the potential to be one of New Zealand's best ever and the best in the world." Scotland was eyeing a 150 total but was pulled back to 131-7 in the last six overs by the bowling of Sophie Devine, Nensi Patel, Bree Illing and Kerr. Made to bat first in its first international against New Zealand, Scotland got a flying start from opener Darcey Carter. She reached 50 off 37 balls, and two more dropped catches by New Zealand --- its 12th and 13th in four games --- had Scotland cruising. Then Devine's first over of medium pace netted two wickets, Scotland was squeezed and Kerr, a victim of one drop, returned in the 19th with a double wicket maiden and finished with 3-17. Carter was stranded on 72 not out. New Zealand made the 132 target look towering when it was three down in the powerplay and Halliday was lucky her edge only grazed the fingertips of wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce. Halliday didn't grab a boundary until the 14th over, content to let Sharp lead. But they accelerated after the 14th over by taking 12, 12 and 12 off the next three overs. Later Tuesday was Australia vs. Pakistan. ___ AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
