After a difficult opening match against Scotland, Ireland responded admirably against stronger opposition. They pushed England for long periods and came within touching distance of defeating New Zealand, eventually losing by just four runs. Those narrow defeats have provided encouragement despite the lack of points.
Captain Gaby Lewis will be hoping her side can finally translate competitive performances into a victory. Ireland’s batting has shown flashes of promise but has often struggled to finish games strongly. The bowling attack, meanwhile, has consistently kept the team in contests.
A victory over Sri Lanka would provide a positive ending to a challenging tournament and reward the effort shown by the squad throughout the competition. With no pressure of qualification calculations, Ireland could play with freedom and confidence, making them a dangerous opponent despite their elimination.
