Sri Lanka maintained their winning momentum in the Women’s Asia Cup on Wednesday, September 2, securing a comprehensive 75-run victory over Indonesia. The win was anchored by a spectacular bowling performance from captain Chamari Athapaththu, who dismantled the Indonesian lineup with a career-best 7 for 5, marking the first time a Sri Lankan woman has achieved a five-wicket haul in T20I cricket.
The match began with Indonesia choosing to bowl, a decision that initially paid dividends as they restricted Sri Lanka to 62/6 by the eighth over. Sri Lankan batters struggled against accurate spin and low bounce, enduring a 43-ball stretch without a single boundary. However, Nilakshika Silva provided a crucial recovery, anchoring the innings from the No. 6 position to reach her third T20I fifty. Silva’s aggressive finish, which included a reverse scoop and a six, helped push Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 124/7 after 20 overs.
Indonesia’s chase faltered early against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack. Athapaththu initiated the collapse by bowling opener Pangestuti, while Sugandika Kumari removed Dewi. The pressure intensified as the Indonesian scoring rate plummeted; between the second and 15th overs, the team managed only one boundary. Kavisha Dilhari further stifled the opposition by dismissing Wulandari, leaving Indonesia struggling at 29/5 after 10 overs.
The climax of the match arrived during Athapaththu’s second spell, where she claimed three consecutive wickets—Ariani, Maypriani, and Paramitha—to secure the first-ever Women’s T20I hat-trick for Sri Lanka. Her devastating spell ensured Indonesia was bundled out for just 49 runs in 18.3 overs.
In the final scorecard, Sri Lanka Women finished on 124/7, led by Silva’s 50 and Kavindi’s 15, while Indonesia’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Dewi with 3-23 and Maypriani with 2-19. Indonesia’s top scorers were Suwandewi with 12 and Pangestuti with 10. Athapaththu’s historic 7-5 and Kumari’s 1-3 were the defining figures in a dominant defensive display. The report also notes that they were down to 36/4, struggling against accurate bowling and, at times, low bounce, by the eighth over. The report also notes that but Sri Lanka managed to crawl up to 68/6, none came in a 43-ball stretch. The report also notes that when Ni Ariani snuck one through to Imesha Dulani’s stumps, compensating for an early drop, their first punch came in the second over. The report also notes that as Chamari Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi looked to reset themselves, a couple of boundaries followed. The report also notes that but Indonesia’s spinners kept striking back. The report also notes that even if it meant a prolonged boundary-less period, but Nilakshika Silva held on to one end. The report also notes that they had added 21 more runs, by the 17th over.
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