Dubai, August 29: Sri Lanka has made a spectacular start to their campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. The team triumphed over the UAE by 9 wickets in a Group B match held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Chathurika Seneviratne, who took 3 wickets, was named ‘Player of the Match’, while captain Chamari Athapaththu scored an unbeaten 48 runs with 9 boundaries.
Batting first after losing the toss, the UAE team collapsed for just 79 runs in 19.5 overs. They lost their first wicket on the fourth ball when Tirtha Satish was dismissed for 0. Shortly after, they lost Lavanya Keni for just 3 runs, leaving the team in a precarious position.
Captain Isha Oja managed to form a brief partnership of 19 runs for the third wicket with Heena Hochchandani, who scored 10 runs. Isha contributed 18 runs off 24 balls, including 2 fours, before getting out.
Heena added 10 runs with Samaira Dhanidharka, while Rinitha Rajith scored 15 runs in a partnership of 18 runs with Samaira for the fifth wicket. Mehul Kulkarni contributed 3 runs, helping the team barely cross the half-century mark.
For Sri Lanka, Mithali Ayodhya claimed 3 wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs, while Chathurika Vimukthi also took 3 wickets, conceding only 16 runs in 4 overs. Additionally, Sugandhika Kumari took 2 wickets.
In response, Sri Lanka chased down the target in just 7.5 overs. Imesha Dulani and captain Chamari Athapaththu put on a solid opening partnership, scoring 57 runs off 35 balls. Imesha was run out after scoring 25 runs off 18 balls. Following her dismissal, Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi added 23 runs for the second wicket in just 12 balls, leading the team to a comfortable victory.
Athapaththu remained unbeaten on 48 runs off 25 balls, with 2 sixes and 7 fours. Sanjana contributed 5 runs off 4 balls. None of the UAE bowlers managed to take a wicket.
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