Sri Lanka’s dependable left-handed top-order batter Harshitha Samarawickrama celebrated her 150th international appearance with a composed, unbeaten match-winning innings against Bangladesh in the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026.
The 28-year-old held her nerve in a tense chase, scoring 48 not out from 37 balls to guide Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory with four balls remaining in the 10th match of the tournament at the UAE-hosted competition. Her Player of the Match performance ensured Sri Lanka completed the Group B league phase unbeaten, finishing top with six points from three matches and sealing a semi-final berth.
In the final league-stage fixture on 6 September, Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and chose to field against a Bangladesh side led by Nigar Sultana Joty. Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered a disciplined effort to restrict Bangladesh to 114 for 8 in 20 overs, leaving a modest but potentially challenging target of 115.
The chase did not come without pressure. Samarawickrama arrived at number five and became the calm centre of Sri Lanka’s response, absorbing the situation before accelerating when required. Her 48 not out featured four boundaries and two sixes, and she remained unbeaten to take her side over the line. The innings was particularly valuable because it combined control with timely intent, helping Sri Lanka avoid a late stumble and preserve their unbeaten tournament record.
Harshitha Samarawickrama’s landmark outing adds another notable chapter to an international career that began in a T20I against Ireland at Mohali on 20 March 2016. In 94 T20Is, she has scored 1,890 runs in 85 innings at an average of 27.39 and a strike rate of 101.34, with nine half-centuries. She is currently Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is, underlining both her longevity and her importance to the side’s batting unit.
Her finest T20I innings came against Ireland in Dublin on 11 August 2024. Opening alongside Vishmi Gunaratne in a chase of 146, Samarawickrama struck an unbeaten 86 from 45 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and a six as Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. That performance, like her latest innings against Bangladesh, earned her the Player of the Match award.
In ODIs, Samarawickrama has built an equally strong record since making her debut against Australia at Dambulla on 20 September 2016. She has amassed 1,620 runs in 54 innings across 56 matches at an average of 35.21 and a strike rate of 69.67, including two centuries and nine fifties. Her 105 from 124 balls against Ireland at Belfast on 18 August 2024 remains her highest ODI score, although Sri Lanka fell 15 runs short while chasing 256.
At this Asia Cup, she has scored 53 runs in two innings from three matches at a strike rate of 112.76. Her milestone appearance showed why Sri Lanka continues to rely on her temperament: when the chase tightened, Samarawickrama found a way to finish it.
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