Sri Lanka kept their slim Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal hopes alive with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Ireland on Tuesday. Led by a sensational unbeaten century from captain Chamari Athapaththu, the Islanders produced one of their most complete performances of the tournament to remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
After restricting Ireland to a modest total, Sri Lanka made light work of the chase, with Athapaththu leading from the front in a commanding display.
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Athapaththu's century headlines Sri Lanka's clinical performance
After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu opted to bowl first, and the decision paid off as her side limited Ireland to 130/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Ireland's innings was anchored by skipper Gaby Lewis, who fought a lone battle with a well-made 59 off 50 deliveries. She received some support from Rebecca Stokell, who contributed 13 off 12 balls, while Leah Paul added 20 from 27 deliveries. Alice Tector chipped in with a useful 28 off 21 balls to help Ireland reach a competitive total.
Sri Lanka's bowlers kept things tight throughout the innings. Mithali Ayodhya, Sugandika Kumari, Athapaththu, and Nilakshika Silva picked up a wicket apiece to prevent Ireland from building significant momentum.
The chase got off to an ideal start for Sri Lanka as openers Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani stitched together a 98-run partnership inside 12 overs. The stand effectively took the game away from Ireland and laid the foundation for a comfortable victory.
Athapaththu was at her destructive best, remaining unbeaten on 106 off just 61 deliveries. The knock marked her fourth T20I century and further underlined her importance to the Sri Lankan side. After Dulani's departure, Nilakshika Silva stayed unbeaten on four as Sri Lanka completed the chase with nine wickets in hand.
Orla Prendergast was the only Irish bowler to claim a wicket. Athapaththu's match-winning century earned her the Player of the Match award.
Sri Lanka remain alive in semifinal race
The emphatic win has boosted Sri Lanka's chances, but their qualification hopes remain delicately poised. The team currently sits fourth in the Group B standings with two wins and two losses from four matches.
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With little room for error, Sri Lanka will likely need to continue winning and do so convincingly, much like they did against Ireland, to improve their standing and keep pressure on the teams above them.
While their fate is not entirely in their own hands, Tuesday's dominant performance ensured that Sri Lanka's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign remains alive heading into the final phase of the group stage.