Top-order batter Harshitha Samarawickrama has expressed firm belief that Sri Lanka can still reach the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, ahead of their decisive Group B clash against Scotland at Old Trafford, Manchester on Friday, 27 June. The island nation currently occupy fourth place in the group but retain an outside chance of advancing to the knockouts if results elsewhere go their way.

What Sri Lanka Need

Sri Lanka must first beat Scotland on Friday, and then rely on West Indies and New Zealand losing to Ireland and England respectively the following day. A net run-rate swing is also required — a factor Samarawickrama confirmed has been built into the team's game plan. The combination of variables makes the path narrow, but not impossible.

Samarawickrama on the Team's Belief

Reflecting on Sri Lanka's tournament, Samarawickrama pointed to a marked improvement from their winless 2024 campaign. A victory over New Zealand earlier in the tournament was highlighted as a landmark result for the ICC's seventh-ranked women's side.

'In the 2024 World Cup, we didn't play good cricket. This year, we have played really good cricket. We won against New Zealand, which was a great achievement in Sri Lankan cricket. Scotland are one of the best upcoming teams, so it's a great challenge for us,' Samarawickrama said.

'You can't undermine any team in this World Cup, everybody's playing good cricket. We are going to take it one step at a time, make sure we win first, and then think about the net run-rate, but we believe we can do it,' she added, according to the ICC.

Athapaththu's Heroics Keep Hope Alive

Much of Sri Lanka's renewed confidence rests on captain Chamari Athapaththu, who struck an unbeaten 106 off 61 deliveries against Ireland on Tuesday to keep their semi-final hopes intact. The innings earned her the Player of the Match award and underlined her status as a cornerstone of the side.

'She's a legend, a living legend in Sri Lankan cricket. She plays really good cricket, and she's a role model for us. She always shares her own knowledge and it's a great honour to play with her,' Samarawickrama said of her skipper.

What's at Stake for Scotland

Scotland enter the fixture with their own compelling motivation. A win would lift them above Sri Lanka into fourth place in Group B and secure automatic qualification for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2028, bypassing the qualification process entirely.

Scottish all-rounder Priyanaz Chatterji — who reached 150 Scotland caps in the match against England at Headingley — acknowledged her side has more to offer. 'We are going into the game to try and win it; we probably haven't played a complete game of cricket. There have been periods across games where we have been very good, whether that be with the bat, with the ball or in the field. But we still feel like we have got more to give,' Chatterji said.

'The implications of the win mean we would qualify for the next World Cup without having to go through the qualification process, so there is a lot at stake in that game,' she added. Scotland have impressed in their second ICC Women's T20 World Cup appearance, recording their first win against Ireland and pushing both West Indies and New Zealand close.

What to Watch

The Old Trafford fixture on Friday doubles as a pivotal moment for both sides — Sri Lanka chasing a semi-final miracle, Scotland chasing long-term security. The outcome will also shape the Group B standings heading into the final round of matches on Saturday, when the top-two spots could still shift.