Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu took seven wickets and a hat-trick to lead her side to a 75-run victory over Indonesia in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai. The defending champions defended a target of 125 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 2nd September.
Athapaththu bowled 3.3 overs, conceded only five runs, and claimed seven wickets to bowl out Indonesia for 49 runs in 18.3 overs. Her historic spell confirmed Sri Lanka’s second successive win in the tournament and put them on the verge of reaching the semi-finals.
Athapaththu Sets Historic Records in Dubai
Athapaththu made history as the first bowler to take seven wickets in any Asia Cup match. She broke the previous Asia Cup record, which Javeria Khan of Pakistan set in 2008. Khan had dismissed six Bangladeshi batters during a Women’s Asia Cup match at Dambulla.
The Sri Lankan captain also set the record for the best bowling figures in women’s Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) by a player from a Full Member nation. Her figures of 7 for 5 are the best by any Sri Lankan player, male or female, in T20I history. Worldwide, this performance ranks as the fifth-best bowling figures in women’s T20I history. This is only the sixth time a bowler has taken seven or more wickets in a women’s T20I.
Additionally, Athapaththu became only the second captain in T20I history to take seven wickets in a match. She joins Alison Stocks of Argentina, who took seven wickets for three runs against Peru in October 2022. Currently, she is the first Sri Lankan woman to take a T20I hat-trick.
“I just attacked the stumps, no other mantra,” Athapaththu said after the match.
Sri Lanka Recovers From Early Batting Collapse
Earlier in the evening, Indonesia chose to bowl first. In the second over, Indonesia’s Ni Ariani bowled Sri Lankan opener Imesha Dulani. The Indonesian spinners continued to strike regularly. By the eighth over, Sri Lanka had slumped to 36 for 4.
Sri Lanka fell further to 62 for 6 in the 13th over. However, Nilakshika Silva rescued the innings from number six. Silva held the innings together and ended a 43-ball period without a boundary.
Silva hit three fours and one six to score 50 runs off 35 balls. She fell to the very next ball after reaching her half-century, but she helped Sri Lanka reach a total of 124 for 7 in their 20 overs. For Indonesia, bowler Ni Luh Dewi took three wickets, while Maypriani claimed two wickets.
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Spin Attack Shuts Down Indonesia’s Chase
In the second innings, Athapaththu struck first by bowling opening batter Rahmawati Pangestuti. Sugandika Kumari then dismissed Ni Luh Dewi in her second over. Athapaththu returned to dismiss the opening batter, Maria Corazon, and the Indonesian captain, Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini, during the powerplay.
Kavisha Dilhari bowled Wulandari to leave Indonesia struggling at 29 for 5 after 10 overs. Athapaththu then returned to dismiss Ni Ariani, Maypriani, and Birgitta Paramitha with three consecutive deliveries.
Only two Indonesian batters reached double figures. Ni Made Putri Suwandewi remained unbeaten on 12 runs from 32 balls, while Pangestuti made 10 runs from 14 balls. The opening stand of 18 runs was Indonesia’s highest partnership of the match.
Kavisha Dilhari finished with brilliant figures of one wicket for two runs in her three overs. Sugandika Kumari took one wicket for three runs, while Kawya Kavindi also took a wicket.
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Sri Lanka Moves to Top of Group B
This victory gives Sri Lanka four points from two matches, placing them at the top of Group B. They have a net run rate above four. Sri Lanka defeated the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their opening match on August 29.
Bangladesh currently sits in second place in Group B. Bangladesh defeated Indonesia by 71 runs on August 31. Sri Lanka will play Bangladesh in their final group match on September 6 to settle the final group positions. Two teams from Group B will qualify for the semi-finals.
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