Harshitha Samarawickrama became the sixth Sri Lankan woman to complete 100 T20I appearances, reaching the milestone in Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against Ireland at the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026. The 28-year-old top-order batter achieved the landmark on 12 November 2026 at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground in Ajman, where Sri Lanka began their campaign with a commanding 10-wicket win.
Sri Lanka are competing in the second edition of the tournament, hosted by the UAE from 12 to 25 November 2026. With regular captain Chamari Athapaththu away on WBBL commitments with defending champions Hobart Hurricanes, Samarawickrama is leading the side as stand-in skipper. Her 100th appearance carried added significance as she took charge of a young Sri Lankan unit in a tournament designed to give emerging teams valuable international exposure.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Ireland, led by Gaby Lewis, were restricted to 105 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, with Sathya Sandeepani producing an outstanding spell of 3 for 9 from four overs. Her disciplined bowling earned her the Player of the Match award.
Chasing 106, Sri Lanka made light work of the target. Openers Hasini Perera and Vishmi Gunaratne both struck unbeaten fifties, finishing on 53 off 41 balls and 53 off 37 balls, respectively. Their unbroken partnership took Sri Lanka to 110 for 0 in just 13 overs, sealing a 10-wicket victory and giving the side a strong start to the tournament.
Harshitha Samarawickrama’s Journey to 100 T20Is
For Samarawickrama, it was a milestone day without a batting contribution. She was not required to bat as Perera and Gunaratne completed the chase, but the occasion still marked a significant personal achievement in a career that has spanned a decade of international cricket. Samarawickrama made her T20I debut on 20 March 2016 against Ireland at Mohali. In the 100 matches since, she has compiled 1,977 runs at an average of 27.08 and a strike rate of 101.80, including nine half-centuries in 90 innings.
Those numbers place her second on Sri Lanka’s all-time T20I run-scoring list, behind only captain Chamari Athapaththu. It is a reflection of both her consistency and longevity, having remained a central part of Sri Lanka’s top order across different phases of the team’s development. Her highest T20I score came against Ireland in Dublin on 11 August 2024. Opening the innings alongside Vishmi Gunaratne, she struck an unbeaten 86 off 45 balls, laced with 15 boundaries and a six, as Sri Lanka chased down 146 with seven wickets in hand in 16.4 overs. She was named Player of the Match for that innings.
Samarawickrama’s elevation to the captaincy for this tournament adds another dimension to her role in the side. While Athapaththu’s absence is a significant loss, it also presents an opportunity for Samarawickrama to stamp her authority as a leader and guide a relatively inexperienced group through a competitive multi-team event.
Her experience of 100 T20Is will be invaluable in that regard. Having played alongside several generations of Sri Lankan cricketers, she brings both tactical awareness and a deep understanding of the team’s culture to the leadership role.
Sri Lanka will look to build on their emphatic opening win when they face Scotland, led by Kathryn Bryce, in the fifth match of the tournament on 13 November 2026 at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground in Ajman. The match begins at 10:30 AM IST. For Samarawickrama, the focus now shifts from personal milestones to team objectives. Having reached 100 T20I appearances, she will be eager to translate her experience into leadership on the field and help Sri Lanka make a strong case in the ongoing Emerging Nations Trophy.
As she embarks on the next chapter of her international career, Samarawickrama’s journey from a debutant in 2016 to a centurion and stand-in captain in 2026 stands as a testament to her enduring value to Sri Lankan cricket.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.