Athapaththu leads Sri Lanka to victory with century

Wednesday, 24 June 2026 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Chamari Athapaththu celebrates her 58-ball century against Ireland

Ireland beaten by nine wickets

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu overcame her team’s disappointing loss to the West Indies, when she piloted her team to a thumping nine-wicket win against Ireland in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match played at Bristol yesterday.

After the defeat against West Indies Athapaththu said that she had failed as captain, but yesterday she played the captain’s knock to lead her side to victory smashing 17 fours and 2 sixes in a display of ruthless hitting as she raced to 106* off 61 balls to see her team reach their target of 131 with 27 balls to spare.

It was Athapaththu’s second World Cup century on this ground following her 178* against Australia ten years ago in a Women’s World Cup 50-over match and her fourth hundred in T20Is.

Ireland batting first were restricted to a total of 130-5 and Sri Lanka needing 131 to win made it look so easy with Athapaththu on song.

Scores:

Ireland Women 130-5 (20) (Gaby Lewis 59, Leah Paul 20, Alice Tector 28*, Nilakshika Silva 1/12, Mithali Ayodhya 1/18)

Sri Lanka Women 134-1 (15.3) (Chamari Athapaththu 106*, Imesha Dulani 20)