“This wasn’t just a chase, it was a statement of intent from Sri Lanka”
Sri Lanka kept their semi-final hopes alive with a dominant 9-wicket win over Ireland in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
First, Ireland batted and scored 130/5 in 20 overs. Captain Gaby Lewis led the fight with 59 runs. Meanwhile, Leah Paul added 31, and Alice Tector remained unbeaten on 28. Although Ireland were struggling at 19/3 early on, they recovered well and posted a competitive total.
In response, Sri Lanka delivered a strong batting performance. Most importantly, captain Chamari Athapaththu played a brilliant innings. She scored an unbeaten 106 off just 61 balls. In addition, her knock included 17 fours and 2 sixes, making it one of the best innings of the tournament.
After that, Sri Lanka chased the target with ease. They reached 134/1 in just 15.3 overs. As a result, they won the match with 27 balls remaining. This big victory also improved their net run rate significantly.
However, Sri Lanka still depend on other results to qualify. Even so, they remain in the race for the semi-finals.
Overall, it was a crucial win under pressure. In the end, Athapaththu’s outstanding century made the difference and kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive.