Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya took three wickets each to lead defending champions Sri Lanka to a dominant nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their Women’s T20 Asia Cup opener.
Sri Lanka dismissed the host nation for 79 runs in 19.5 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before chasing down the target in just 7.5 overs on 29 August 2026. The win launched Sri Lanka’s title defence and placed them at the summit of the Group B standings with two points and a net run rate of 6.263.
Ayodhya and Vimukthi Strike Early in UAE Innings
Mithali Ayodhya bowled UAE opener Theertha Satish for a two-ball duck with her fourth delivery.
Captain Athapaththu handed the new ball to the 19-year-old bowler to exploit the early movement. Chethana Vimukthi, making her T20I debut after playing six One-Day Internationals for Sri Lanka, shared the new ball. She bowled Lavanya Keny for 3 runs off 11 balls with a cross-seam delivery that hit the top of off stump. UAE were reduced to 8 runs for two wickets in the fourth over.
The UAE batters struggled to score runs against Sri Lanka’s tight bowling during the six-over powerplay. Captain Esha Oza hit her team’s only powerplay boundary in the fifth over, specifically at the 4.1 over mark, as UAE reached 22 runs for two wickets after six overs.
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Spinners Tighten Grip in Middle Overs
Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari dismissed Oza for 18 runs off 24 balls. Oza’s score of 18 remained UAE’s highest in the innings, as only four UAE batters reached double figures. At the 10-over mark, UAE reached 31 runs for three wickets after playing 37 dot balls.
Athapaththu dismissed Heena Hotchandani for 10 runs off 18 balls, leaving UAE at 38 for four. Samaira Dharnidharka hit two boundaries and scored 17 off 25 balls before falling to leg-spinner Kavisha Dilhari, who caught and bowled her in the 15th over.
Rinitha Rajith hit two boundaries in her 15 runs off 16 balls before losing her wicket in the 19th over. Ayodhya and Vimukthi then returned to take two wickets each in their final overs. Sri Lanka bowled out UAE for 79 runs in 19.5 overs. Ayodhya finished with figures of three wickets for 14 runs in her four overs, Vimukthi took three for 16, and Kumari took two for 18.
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Athapaththu and Dulani Power the Run Chase
Sri Lanka began their chase aggressively. Athapaththu hit a six off Oza to become the first player to score 500 runs in Women’s Asia Cup history. She shared a 57-run opening partnership with Imesha Dulani.
The UAE team broke this stand in the sixth over, running out Dulani for 25. Dulani scored 25 runs off 18 balls, hitting five boundaries.
Athapaththu continued her attack alongside Sanjana Kavindi (5 not out), hitting two boundaries off Athige Silva and another six off Oza. She finished on 48 not out off 25 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes, to secure the nine-wicket win.
Squad Changes and Next Fixtures
Sri Lanka have made changes to their squad from their last match against Pakistan. They brought back Nilakshi Silva and Sugandika Kumari while leaving out Hasini Perera, Kawya Kavindi, and Nimasha Meepage. UAE added Indhuja Nandakumar, who last played a T20I in December 2025, to their lineup.
Sri Lanka now leads Group B with two points. Both teams play Indonesia next. Sri Lanka will play 2 September 2026, and UAE on 4 September 2026.
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