Sri Lanka registered a convincing nine-wicket victory over Ireland in their Group B encounter of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 played today (23rd June) at Bristol, keeping their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
Having won the toss, Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu opted to bowl first and retained the same playing XI that featured in their previous match.
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Ireland made a steady start and went on to post 130 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Gaby Lewis led the charge with a well-compiled 59 runs off 50 deliveries, striking eight boundaries during her innings. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers did well to prevent Ireland from accelerating in the latter stages of the innings.
Mithali Ayodhya, Sugandika Kumari, Chamari Athapaththu and Nilakshika Silva shared the wickets, claiming one apiece to keep Ireland to a manageable total.
In reply, Sri Lanka made light work of the chase with a dominant batting display. Leading from the front, Athapaththu produced one of the finest innings of the tournament, blasting an unbeaten 106 runs off just 61 deliveries. Her sensational knock included 17 fours and two sixes as she dismantled the Irish bowling attack with ease.
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The emphatic win not only boosted Sri Lanka’s net run rate but also ensured that they remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals. While their qualification hopes remain slim, the victory has kept their campaign alive heading into the final stages of the group phase.
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