MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Sri Lanka kept alive slim hopes of making the Women's Twenty20 World Cup semifinals for the first time after a dramatic last-over win over Scotland at Old Trafford on Friday.
Sri Lanka chased down the 152 target on the penultimate ball and won by three wickets.
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Scotland's Ailsa Lister bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Scotland's Priyanaz Chatterji is ran out by Sri Lanka's Kaushini Nuthyangana during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Sri Lanka's Imesha Dulani bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Sri Lanka's Kavisha Dilhari bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Scotland medium-pacer Rachel Slater bowled the last over, trying to prevent Sri Lanka from scoring seven runs. She conceded singles off the first three deliveries then pulled up and collapsed to the ground with a suspected knee injury. Slater eventually left the field in tears, Priyanaz Chatterji stepped up, conceded a single but then the winning boundary to tailender Sugandika Kumari.
Sri Lanka needed its best-ever third win in one World Cup to be by a bigger margin, inside 10.3 overs, but going the distance barely improved its net run rate and the West Indies can clinch the second and last semifinal spot in their group by cruising against winless Ireland on Saturday.
Scotland, at its second T20 World Cup, has finished fifth in the group but sought fourth place and a direct spot into the 2028 T20 World Cup in Pakistan.
But only Sarah Bryce, in after her sister and captain Kathryn fell at 66-2 in the 10th over, made the Sri Lankans sweat with an unbeaten 33-ball 47 and a last-ball boundary for a 151-6 total.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, appearing in her 10th T20 World Cup, exploded with a 16-ball 33 but after her exit at 57-2 in the sixth over her teammates slowed and crawled over the finish line at 154-7.
On Saturday, there's also Netherlands vs. Pakistan, and semifinal-bound England vs. defending champion New Zealand.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Scotland's Ailsa Lister bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Scotland's Priyanaz Chatterji is ran out by Sri Lanka's Kaushini Nuthyangana during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Sri Lanka's Imesha Dulani bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Sri Lanka's Kavisha Dilhari bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Friday June 26, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s stadium is expected to be brimming with rainbow flags on Friday for a World Cup match between teams representing two of the most repressive countries for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
It was just a coincidence that the city’s “Pride Match” ended up as a high-stakes matchup between Iran and Egypt — with advancement from Group G still up in the air — and the move has come with plenty of pushback from both countries. But Seattle officials and its soccer community say this distinctive pairing is an opportunity to showcase the city’s inclusivity as well as the common ground that can be found at the World Cup.
Jess Fishlock, captain of the National Women’s Soccer League club Seattle Reign, said this is what the World Cup is all about.
“I don’t think there is a sport that has a global event that creates unity and diversity and a bringing together of so many cultures quite like the World Cup,” she told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I think we get to see that firsthand at the Pride Match.”
Same-sex relations are illegal in Iran, where gay men have been executed on sodomy charges, while Egypt has prosecuted gay and lesbian people and suppressed outward expressions of gay pride, including rainbow flags.
The countries complained to FIFA in December about the “Pride Match” and have asked that the celebrations be canceled.
FIFA treats the rainbow flag as a statement of human rights and will allow fans to wave it inside the stadium, according to Hana Tadesse, a spokesperson for Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee.
When asked Thursday about the pride celebration, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said the team was focused on soccer.
“We are concerned with football on the pitch,” he said in Arabic. “We respect fair play and rules for everybody to abide by.”
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei made similar remarks during a news conference Thursday when asked about what will happen at Lumen Field.
“We are only going to speak about football, what a beautiful game it is, and how enjoyable it’s going to be,” Ghalenoei said in response to a reporter’s question in Farsi.
The match on Friday coincides with Seattle’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and Pride watch parties are planned in some neighborhoods. Over the weekend, the city will hold its popular Pride parade.
Ilona Lohrey, president and CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association, an LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, described Seattle as one of the most inclusive cities in the country.
“I think it gives us an opportunity to showcase who we are as a city, who we are as a people and how diversity makes us stronger,” Lohrey said in an interview.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Fans arrive before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)
A fan holds up a rainbow flag before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A spectator holds up a flag before the start of the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo//Lindsey Wasson)
Fans wave Pride flags at a beer garden outside the stadium before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Pride flags are displayed at a dining area outside the stadium before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Meghan Cherry, of Seattle, adorned in a pride flag arrives for the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A man moves a barrier adorned with a Pride flag at a dining area outside the stadium before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Anthony Vega, of Seattle, displays a pride flag outside the stadium before attending the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
FILE - Marchers with the Greater Seattle Business Association, Washington State's LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce, hold rainbow letters spelling out "Seattle," during the annual Seattle Pride Parade, June 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
FILE - Sasha Peretti dances on the Greater Seattle Business Association float during the annual Seattle Pride Parade, June 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
