Off-spinner Inoshi Priyadharshani had fine figures of 3 for 14 in her 4-over spell, well supported by fast bowler Udeshika Probodani with 2 for 10 in her 3-over spell as Sri Lanka started with a winning way, defeating Thailand by 67 runs in their opening T20 World Cup qualifying game played at Tolerance Oval grounds, Abu Dhabi, yesterday.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and decided to bat first, but they couldn’t perform as expected and were able to score 122 for 5 wickets in their 20 overs. Thailand, chasing a target of 123 runs, faced big pressure from Sri Lanka bowlers and were bundled out for 55 in 16.2 overs.

Sri Lanka started with 37-year-old off-spinner Inoshi Priyadharshani and experienced fast bowler Udeshika Probodani, both making tidy spells to create pressure on the top order. The opener, Nattaya Boochatham, the captain, was the first to go, scoring 4, and Probodani took an early breakthrough in her 5th ball of the first over.

Kavisha Dilhari took the co-opener Natthakan Chantham, who scored 5 in 18 balls, but their number three batter, Nannapat Koncharoenkai, was the only player to reach double figures, scoring 18 in 27 balls with 2 fours. They had to complete 50 runs in 15.1 overs while losing 8 wickets at that stage. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who bowled only 2 balls in the 17th over, took the last wicket of Sunida to record a comfortable 67-run win for Sri Lanka.

Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu, the in-form batter, was unfortunately run out, scoring 16 in 23 balls with 2 fours, while Hasini Perera made 29 in 32 balls with 5 fours and Nilakshika Silva made an unbeaten 29 in 20 balls with 3 fours, well supported by wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani, who scored an unbeaten 13 in 15 balls with a four, adding valuable 44 runs for the sixth wicket unbroken stand to build up the innings.

Inoshi Priyadharshani, who bowled a tidy spell, was adjudged player of the match.

Meanwhile, Ireland women beat UAE women by 6 wickets in their match played yesterday.

Sri Lanka will meet Scotland in their next game on 27th in Abu Dhabi.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka Women’s 122 for 5 wickets in 20 overs Vishmi Gunaratne 13, Chamari Athapaththu 16, Hasini Perera 29, Hansima Karunaratne 11, Nilakshika Silva 29*, Anushka Sanjeewani 13*, Chanida Sutthiruang 1/15, Onnicha Kamchomphu 1/27, Sanida Chaturongrattana 1/15, Suleeporn Laomi 1/19

Thailand Women’s 55 all out in 16.2 overs

Nannapat Koncharoenkai 18, Udeshika Probodani 2 /10, Inoshi Priyadharshani 3/14, Kavisha Dilhari 1/8, Achini Kulasuriya 1/7, Chamari Athapaththu 1/4