By Chamari Atapattu Shines as Sri Lanka Women Dominate Malaysia in Women’s Asia Cup
Sri Lanka Women’s skipper Chamari Atapattu showcased her exceptional batting prowess with an unbeaten 119 off 69 balls, featuring 14 boundaries and seven towering sixes, leading her team to a commanding 144-run victory over Malaysia Women in the seventh match of the Women’s Asia Cup at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
After winning the toss, Atapattu opted to bat first. Despite an early setback with the loss of in-form Vishmi Gunaratne for just five runs in the second over, Atapattu anchored the innings with remarkable skill. She guided her team to a formidable total of 184, thanks to two crucial partnerships. The first was a 64-run stand in 50 balls with Harshitha Samarawickrama, who scored 26. The second was a blistering 115-run partnership in just 62 balls with Anushka Sanjeewani, who contributed 31 runs.
In Malaysia Women’s chase of 185 runs, the Sri Lankan bowlers dominated. Left and right-arm spinners Shashini Gimhani and Kavisha Dilhari, along with right-arm pacer Kawya Kavindi, combined to take seven wickets, bundling out Malaysia for a paltry 40 runs. This victory marks Sri Lanka Women’s second successive win, following their seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh Women.
With this win, Sri Lanka Women have secured a spot in the semi-finals and are set to play their final league match against Thailand Women on July 24.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka Women: 184 for 4 in 20 overs (Chamari Atapattu 119 n.o., Anushka Sanjeewani 31, Harshitha Samarawickrama 26; Winifred Duraisingham 2/34)
Malaysia Women: 40 in 19.5 overs (Shashini Gimhani 3/9, Kavisha Dilhari 2/4, Kawya Kavindi 2/7)
