Chamari Athapaththu’s first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hundred fired Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket victory over Ireland at the Bristol County Ground, as they kept their qualification hopes intact.
The opener, who scored 178 not out against Australia on the same ground at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017, blitzed to the milestone off just 58 balls, after she and Imesha Dulani had put on 98 for the opening wicket to put Sri Lanka on course for victory.
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis had earlier struck a determined 59 as she contended with the extreme heat.
A statement victory from the Lionesses!🏏
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 23, 2026
Sri Lanka Women cruise to a brilliant 9-wicket win, showcasing dominance, confidence, and class on the world stage.🇱🇰#T20WorldCup #SLvIRL #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/XgSQflHLDE
LEWIS BATTLES PAST HEAT AFTER SRI LANKA STRIKE EARLY
Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu won the toss and opted to bowl, and she could hardly have asked for a better start.
Wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana ran out Amy Hunter in the first over, collecting and throwing the stumps down as the Irish openers attempted a leg-bye.
Nuthyangana was in the action again soon after, stumping Orla Prendergast off the bowling of Sugandika Kumari (1/26) for a duck as Ireland fell to three for two.
Rebecca Stokell struck three boundaries but Mithali Ayodhya (1-18) dismissed her for 13 in the fifth over, with Ireland 19-3.
Lewis and Leah Paul steadied the ship, putting on 66 before Paul was caught behind for 20 attempting a scoop off Nilakshika Silva (1-12).
Lewis was clearly struggling to cope with the extreme heat, temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius, but she battled through nonetheless, reaching her half-century with a cut for four in the 15th over.
She was bowled by Athapaththu (1-23) for 59 in the 19th over, attempting an advance down the wicket, but back-to-back Alice Tector boundaries took Ireland to 130 for five from their 20 overs.
ATHAPATHTHU BLOWS IRELAND AWAY
Athapaththu gave an early indication of things to come, thrashing Aimee Maguire’s opening ball for four as Sri Lanka got their chase underway in the perfect fashion.
She reduced opening partner Dulani to a spectator, striking consecutive boundaries off Lara McBride as the fifty partnership came up off just 33 balls at the end of the fifth over, Athapaththu having contributed 46 of them.
Sri Lanka’s all-time leading run-scorer brought up a 30-ball half-century with a boundary in the seventh over, rapidly taking the game away from Ireland.
Their first chance to break the stand came in the ninth over, but Paul dropped Dulani at midwicket, and the Sri Lankan skipper added insult to injury by launching her 100th T20I six off the following ball.
Athapaththu nailed Cara Murray back over her head, the spinner unable to even get a hand on it, before Prendergast bowled Dulani for 20 in the 12th over, ending Sri Lanka’s highest ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opening stand on 98.
It didn’t stop Athapaththu, though, as she struck three boundaries off a Maguire over costing 16, moving into the 90s in the process.
A single to long-on brought up a 58-ball hundred in the 15th over, her first in T20 World Cups in her 36th game, having played in all 10 editions since 2009.
When the lights shine brightest, Chamari shines louder. 💯🔥
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 23, 2026
A captain’s century carved with power, pride, and purpose - not just runs on the board, but a statement to the world. Sri Lanka’s lioness roars again! 🇱🇰🏏#ChamariAthapaththu #LionessRoars #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/hJanx02ZPF
She finished proceedings with a four, ending 106 not out as Sri Lanka chased down the target with four-and-a-half overs to spare.
They now have to beat Scotland at Old Trafford on Friday, hoping for results elsewhere to go their way, as well as hoping for a big swing in net run-rate.