Nilakshika and Chamari uphold Sri Lankan pride
ThePapareNews article
After Nilakshika Silva anchored the innings with the bat, Chamari Athapaththu recorded the best bowling figures in Women's Asia Cup T20 history as Sri Lanka secured a 75-run victory over Indonesia.
In this match, the 6th fixture of the 2026 Women's Asia Cup T20 tournament, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on (2), Sri Lanka were invited to bat first after Indonesia won the toss and scored 124 for 7, before dismissing their opponents for just 49 in reply.
This was Sri Lanka's 2nd consecutive victory in this year's tournament.
Indonesia fielded the same team from their previous match, while Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in Kavya Kavindi for the injured Mitali Ayodhya.
Sri Lanka women's team
Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Kavya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Prabodha and Chethana Vimukthi.
Indonesia women's team
Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini (captain and wicketkeeper), Maria Corazon, Rahmawati Pangestuti, Ni Luh Dewi, Ni Kadek Fitria Rada Rani, Desi Wulandari, Ni Made Putri Suwandewi, Sofia Velic, Ni Ariani, Sang Maypriani, Dara Paramitha,
Sri Lanka did not make the best of starts after being asked to bat first. Of the first 6 batters dismissed, Sanjana Kavindi was the only one to reach double figures, scoring 15 off 15 balls with 2 fours.
By then, Sri Lanka were struggling at 62, with Imesha Dulani (3), Chamari Athapaththu (9), Harshitha Samarawickrama (5), Kavisha Dilhari (6) and Kaushini Nuthyangana (6) all failing to make an impact.
Nilakshika de Silva rescued Sri Lanka from that difficult position. When she was dismissed as the 7th wicket, she had scored 50 off 35 balls with 3 fours and a six. It was her 3rd T20 International half-century and her maiden fifty in Asia Cup history.
For that wicket, she also shared a 50-run partnership off 36 balls with Kavya Kavindi.
Following her dismissal, Kavya Kavindi and Sugandika Kumari remained unbeaten at the close of the innings. Kavya Kavindi finished on 15 not out off 19 balls with a four, while Sugandika Kumari made 8 not out off 8 balls.
Ni Luh Dewi returned the best figures of the innings with 3 wickets for 32 runs, while Sang Maypriani claimed 2 wickets and Sofia Velic and Ni Ariani took one apiece.
Sri Lanka begin the tournament with a comfortable victory
Major Club women's title goes to Baduraliya
Ashani, Shashini and Malki shine
Nilakshika scores her 2nd consecutive half-century
Shehari takes 7 wickets as Vishmi scores a century
Ni Made Putri Suwandewi was Indonesia's top scorer in their reply, finishing unbeaten on 12 off 32 balls with a four. Rahmawati Pangestuti also scored 10 off 14 balls with 2 fours.
With every other batter restricted to single figures, they recorded the 3rd-lowest total in their T20 history against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was instrumental in reducing them to that position, taking 7 wickets for just 5 runs from 21 balls. It was the best bowling performance in an innings in Women's Asia Cup history and also Athapaththu's best figures in T20 cricket. Her haul also featured a notable hat-trick.
She completed the hat-trick with the final 3 balls she bowled, dismissing Ni Ariani (2), Sang Maypriani (0) and Dara Paramitha (0) in succession. It was also the first hat-trick by a bowler in Sri Lanka women's T20 history.
Kavisha Dilhari, Sugandika Kumari and Kavya Kavindi also claimed one wicket apiece.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka women's cricket team – 124 for 7 (20.0) Nilakshika Silva 50, Kavya Kavindi 15 not out, Sang Maypriani 2/19, Ni Luh Dewi 3/32
Indonesia women's cricket team – 49 all out (18.3) Ni Made Putri Suwandewi 12 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 7/05
Sri Lanka women's cricket team won by 75 runs.
Player of the Match – Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka's next match in the 2026 Women's Asia Cup T20 tournament is scheduled against Bangladesh on the 6th of this month, also at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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Based on ThePapare reporting