Sri Lanka launched their Women’s Asia Cup campaign with a dominant performance, securing a nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates. The defending champions dismantled the UAE lineup for just 79 runs in 19.5 overs, before chasing down the target with 73 balls to spare—marking the largest margin of victory in Sri Lanka’s T20I history in terms of balls remaining.
The Sri Lankan bowling attack set the tone early after opting to field. Mithali Ayodhya claimed 3 for 14, while Chethana Vimukthi provided a disciplined spell to finish with 3 for 16. Sugandika Kumari also contributed significantly, taking 2 for 18. The UAE struggled to build momentum, losing Theertha Satish for a duck in the opening over. By the end of the Powerplay, the UAE had managed only 16 for 2, with Esha Oza and Heena Hotchandani unable to accelerate against the tight bowling.
The middle overs offered little relief for the UAE, who crawled to 31 for 3 by the halfway mark after playing out 37 dot balls. Esha Oza, who top-scored with 18 off 24, was eventually dismissed by Kumari. Despite a brief effort from Rinitha Rajith, who scored 15 off 16, and Samaira Dharnidharka’s 17 off 25, the UAE continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Ayodhya returned to clean up the tail, ensuring the total remained well under 80.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase was swift and aggressive. Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani attacked the bowling from the start, with Dulani striking five boundaries in her 18-ball 25. During the innings, Chamari Athapaththu reached a milestone, becoming the first player to accumulate 500 runs in Women’s Asia Cup history after hitting a six off Esha Oza in the fourth over.
The pair shared a half-century partnership before Dulani was run out for 25 following a ricochet off the bowler. Athapaththu, who remained unbeaten on 48 off 25, continued the momentum alongside Sanjana Kavindi to finish the match in just 7.5 overs. Brief scores: UAE 79 (E. Oza 18; M. Ayodhya 3-14, C. Vimukthi 3-16) lost to Sri Lanka 80/1 (C. Athapaththu 48*, I. Dulani 25) by 9 wickets. The report also notes that bowling a disciplined spell and removing Lavanya Keny in the fourth over to leave UAE at 8 for 2, chethana Vimukthi then joined in. The report also notes that which was also the first of the innings, did not come until the 4.1 over, and UAE reached only 16 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay, oza’s first boundary. The report also notes that and although Rinitha Rajith provided some impetus with 15 off 16, wickets kept falling around her, hotchandani fell for 10 off 18 to Chamari Athapaththu soon after. The report also notes that and Rajith followed in the 19th over, samaira Dharnidharka made 17 off 25 before Kavisha Dilhari had her caught and bowled in the 15th over.
