England Women vs Sri Lanka: The Key Battles

England take on Sri Lanka at The Incora County Ground on Wednesday 6 September, and there are a number of exciting head-to-head battles to relish!

Heather Knight is a captain who knows how to win at Derby, in fact, her side have only tasted defeat once at the ground since 2017, but they will face a stern test in their IT20 against Sri Lanka, as some of the world’s best players face off.

So what match-ups will the England skipper have to consider, if her side are to come out on top in the East Midlands next month?

1. Nat Sciver-Brunt vs Chamari Athapaththu

Two of the world’s best players and two batters who have sat top of the ICC ODI rankings in recent months, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Chamari Athapaththu will be key for their respective side’s chances of winning at The Incora County Ground.

Each player boasts more than 2,000 IT20 runs and also has the ability to make an impact with the ball, Athapaththu edges her counterpart with the bat, having 254 more runs and being the only Sri Lanka Women’s player in history to record an IT20 century.

2. Sarah Glenn vs Oshadi Ranasinghe

Derbyshire-born Sarah Glenn has claimed one IT20 wicket more than Oshadi Ranasinghe, despite being 14 years her junior, with the English spinner having now established herself as a key member of the national side.

The experienced Ranasinghe made her international debut in 2011, and has become the third-highest IT20 wicket-taker in Sri Lanka Women’s history, with 58 dismissals at an average of 23.31.

Glenn, who returned to Derbyshire Women this year, made her England debut in 2019 and has been ranked as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world since, even being named Player of the Series for her performances against the West Indies at Derby in 2020. She was also part of this year’s Ashes squad, as England handed Australia two white-ball series defeats.

3. Sophia Dunkley vs Harshitha Samarawickrama

Two young batters who have already made their mark on the international stage, Sophia Dunkley and Harshitha Samarawickrama could bring the fireworks to Derby this September.

Both batters are 25-years-old and have made strong starts to their international careers, scoring a combined seven half-centuries and each appearing at the most recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Both players regularly open the batting in white ball cricket and look to get their sides off to strong starts, and both will be aiming to set the tone at The Incora County Ground on Wednesday 6 September.