Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu made a statement of intent by blasting 94 as her side beat Pakistan by nine wickets in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match.
South Africa and New Zealand were among the day’s other winners, with Laura Wolvaardt and Amelia Kerr in the runs against Ireland and Bangladesh respectively, while Scotland defeated the Netherlands.
Athapaththu leads the charge
Pakistan batted first in Derby and started well, with Muneeba Ali (36) and Gull Feroza (26) posting 60 for the opening wicket.
Muneeba fell to Chethana Vimukthi, the first of four scalps for the Sri Lankan seamer, sparking a wobble which saw Pakistan slip to 105 for six.
Skipper Fatima Sana’s 26-ball 37 dragged them to 168 for eight but Sri Lanka made light work of the chase.
Athapaththu fired nine fours and five sixes in her sparkling 94 from 58 deliveries, falling with the job all but done.
Her opening partner Vishmi Gunarathne contributed 63 not out, with three fours and three sixes, as Sri Lanka eased home with nine balls to spare.
Be the first to comment