Chamari Athapaththu struck an unbeaten 106 from 61 balls as Sri Lanka beat Ireland by nine wickets at Bristol on Tuesday to stay alive in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The Sri Lanka captain turned a chase of 131 into a statement innings, finishing 106 not out as her side reached 134 for one in 15.3 overs. The win came after Ireland had made 130 for five, with Gaby Lewis’ half-century giving them a total to defend before Athapaththu took the game away.
It was a sharp response from a player who had publicly carried the weight of Sri Lanka’s earlier setbacks. The ICC match report said Athapaththu’s innings was the highest individual score of this World Cup edition, built on 17 fours and two sixes.
Sri Lanka Still Need Help
The result does not put Sri Lanka in control of Group B, but it does keep the door open. Their net run-rate improved from -1.913 to -0.973, an important shift before the final round of group fixtures.
Sri Lanka still need to beat Scotland and hope other results break their way, yet Athapaththu’s innings changes the mood around a campaign that was close to slipping away. Ireland, already under pressure after a difficult tournament, were left with too little margin once their bowlers failed to remove Sri Lanka’s defining batter.
