Sri Lanka Women produced a dominant all-round performance to storm into the semi-finals of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026, defeating Malaysia Women by 86 runs in the 3rd Quarter-Final at Nisshin on September 18. After being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka Women posted an imposing 160/4 from their 20 overs, with captain Chamari Athapaththu leading the way with a superb 63. Malaysia Women struggled to build momentum in the chase and eventually finished on 74/7 from their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka Women got off to a difficult start after losing Imesha Dulani early in the innings. Dulani managed only two runs from 11 balls before being run out by Nur Dania Syuhada and Wan Julia, leaving Sri Lanka at just 6/1. Chamari Athapaththu then joined Hasini Perera at the crease and immediately helped steady the innings. The Sri Lankan captain played an aggressive hand while Perera provided support, and the pair constructed an important 80-run partnership for the second wicket. Their stand took Sri Lanka from 6/1 to 86/2 and completely changed the momentum of the innings.
Chamari continued to find the boundaries with regularity and brought up an excellent 63 from 37 deliveries. Her innings included seven fours and three sixes, giving her a strike rate of 170.27. Hasini Perera, meanwhile, contributed 23 from 26 balls, including three fours, before being dismissed by Nur Arianna Natsya off Nurin Imanina. Her wicket came with Sri Lanka on 86/2, but the platform created by the second-wicket partnership allowed the middle order to attack.
Kavisha Dilhari then took charge of the Sri Lankan innings. She joined Harshitha Samarawickrama after Perera’s departure, with the pair adding nine runs before the next wicket fell. Dilhari remained unbeaten on 44 from only 27 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 162.96. Harshitha also played a valuable attacking innings, scoring 25 from 18 deliveries with three fours and a six. Their partnership became the second major stand of the innings, producing 62 runs for the fourth wicket and taking Sri Lanka from 95/3 to 157/4.
Harshitha remained unbeaten after her dismissal partner departed, while Hansima Karunaratne added a quick unbeaten one from one ball. The late contribution helped Sri Lanka finish strongly at 160/4 from their 20 overs. Malaysia’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring rate, although Nurin Imanina was their most successful bowler with figures of 3/29 from four overs. Nur Dania Syuhada conceded 27 runs from four overs without a wicket, while Aisya Eleesa gave away 23 from three. Ainna Hamizah Hashim returned 0/21 from two overs, Mahirah Izzati Ismail conceded 28 from three, Winifred Duraisingam went for 16 from two, and Dhanusri Muhunan conceded 15 from two.
Malaysia Women needed a strong start in their chase of 161, but their innings immediately came under pressure. Ainna Hamizah Hashim was run out for a three-ball duck with just one run on the board. Wan Julia then joined Winifred Duraisingam, and the pair attempted to rebuild the innings. Their 24-run partnership provided Malaysia with some stability before Wan was dismissed for nine from 18 balls by Kavisha Dilhari, leaving the score at 25/2.
The situation became more difficult almost immediately when captain Mas Elysa was trapped lbw by Kavisha Dilhari for a single-ball duck. Malaysia were still on 25, meaning Sri Lanka had taken two wickets without conceding a run between them. Winifred Duraisingam tried to anchor the innings and eventually scored 28 from 47 balls, hitting two fours. She formed Malaysia’s most substantial partnership of the chase with Mahirah Izzati Ismail, with the pair adding 42 runs for the fourth wicket.
That partnership briefly gave Malaysia hope of building a competitive total, but Sri Lanka continued to apply pressure. Winifred was eventually caught by Kaushini Nuthyangana off Chamari Athapaththu for 28, leaving Malaysia at 67/4. Mahirah followed without adding to the score, dismissed for 24 from 42 balls after being caught by Bharti Fulmali off Athapaththu. Malaysia had therefore slipped from 67/3 to 67/5, with the chase effectively losing its momentum.
Nurin Imanina was dismissed for a three-ball duck by Athapaththu, while Dhanusri Muhunan provided a late burst with an unbeaten five from three balls, including a four. Nur Dania Syuhada was dismissed for a two-ball duck, while Nur Arianna Natsya remained unbeaten on one. Dhanusri and Nur Arianna added the final runs as Malaysia finished on 74/7 from their 20 overs, well short of the target.
Kavisha Dilhari was particularly impressive with the ball, claiming 2/4 from three overs while also contributing an unbeaten 44 with the bat. Mithali Ayodhya also took 2/15 from three overs, while Rashmika Sewwandi picked up 1/16. Chamudi Praboda returned excellent figures of 1/13 from three overs, including a maiden, and Hansima Karunaratne finished with 0/13 from three overs. Sugandika Kumari was economical throughout her spell, conceding only nine runs from three overs without taking a wicket. N Sree Charani was not required to bowl.
Sri Lanka Women ultimately completed an 86-run victory over Malaysia Women, combining Chamari Athapaththu’s captain’s knock, Kavisha Dilhari’s explosive 44 and a disciplined bowling display to control the quarter-final from start to finish. Malaysia’s Winifred Duraisingam and Mahirah Izzati Ismail attempted to rebuild the chase through their 42-run partnership, but regular wickets prevented the hosts from putting together a sustained response. With Sri Lanka reaching 160/4 and Malaysia restricted to 74/7, the result secured Sri Lanka Women a place in the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket semi-finals.
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