Athapaththu’s unbeaten 83 powers Sri Lanka to eight-wicket semi-final win over Pakistan
Chamari Athapaththu’s 83 powers Sri Lanka to Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket final with 8-wicket win over Pakistan. Photo: AFP
Sri Lanka advanced to the final of the Asian Games women’s cricket competition after captain Chamari Athapaththu smashed an unbeaten 83 to lead an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first semi-final in Nisshin on Sunday.
Chasing 178 for victory, Sri Lanka achieved the target in 17.5 overs, with Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama unbeaten on 17 at the finish.
Athapaththu struck seven fours and six sixes in a 50-ball innings, accelerating after reaching her half-century from 37 deliveries.
Sri Lanka lost Imesha Dulani for 27 in the fifth over, but Athapaththu continued the chase at a brisk pace before combining with Hasini Perera in a 95-run second-wicket partnership.
Perera made 42 from 26 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, before she was caught by Umm-e-Hani off spinner Nashra Sandhu.
That wicket briefly gave Pakistan an opening, but Samarawickrama joined Athapaththu and the pair completed the chase without further damage.
Pakistan had posted 177-4 after being asked to bat, with Ayesha Zafar leading the scoring with a rapid 71 from 40 balls.
Zafar struck nine fours and two sixes and shared a 115-run third-wicket partnership with Shawaal Zulfiqar, who made 54 from 50 balls.
The pair rebuilt Pakistan’s innings after Saira Jabeen was dismissed for 17 in the sixth over, taking Pakistan past 100 in the 12th over.
Zafar reached her half-century from just 27 balls before being run out for 71 at the end of the 17th over.
Zulfiqar followed for 54 late in the innings, while captain Fatima Sana remained unbeaten on 20 from 12 balls to lift Pakistan to a competitive total.
Fatima Sana also took the first Sri Lankan wicket, removing Dulani, while Sandhu dismissed Perera.
But Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain Athapaththu, who maintained a scoring rate of more than three runs per ball during the decisive phase of the chase.
Sri Lanka’s victory sends them into the final of the inaugural Asian Games women’s cricket competition, while Pakistan will play the other semi-final loser for the bronze medal.
