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 four runs. Those narrow defeats provided encouragement despite the lack of points.
Captain Gaby Lewis will be hoping her side can finally translate competitive performances into a win. The Ireland batsman has shown flashes of promise but has often struggled to finish games strongly. The bowling attack, meanwhile, has always kept the team in contests.
A win over Sri Lanka would provide a positive end to a challenging tournament and reward the effort shown by the team throughout the competition. Without the pressure of qualification calculations, Ireland could play with freedom and confidence, making for a dangerous opponent despite their elimination.
