Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 83 helped Sri Lanka chase Pakistan’s 178-run target with 13 balls to spare in the 2026 Asian Games semifinal.
Sri Lanka Women stormed into the 2026 Asian Games women’s cricket final after defeating Pakistan Women by eight wickets in the first semifinal in Nisshin, Japan.
Pakistan, sent in to bat first, posted 177 for four in their allotted 20 overs. Ayesha Zafar top-scored with a brisk 71, while Shawaal Zulfiqar added 54 to help Pakistan build a competitive total.
However, Sri Lanka’s experienced top order took control of the chase from the outset and made Pakistan’s total look insufficient.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu led the response with an unbeaten 83. The left-hander struck seven fours and six sixes during an aggressive but controlled innings that kept the required run rate comfortably within reach.
Athapaththu received strong support from Hasini Perera, who scored 42 as the pair put Pakistan’s bowling attack under sustained pressure. Sri Lanka steadily moved toward the target without allowing Pakistan to establish a meaningful grip on the chase.
The Sri Lankan side eventually reached 178 for two in 17.5 overs, completing an emphatic eight-wicket victory with 13 balls remaining.
The win secured Sri Lanka’s place in the gold-medal match of the Asian Games women’s cricket tournament. The remaining semifinal will determine their opponent in the championship contest.
For Pakistan, the defeat ended their hopes of competing for the gold medal. They will now turn their attention to the bronze-medal match, where they will have an opportunity to finish the tournament with a medal.
Athapaththu’s performance further highlighted her importance to Sri Lanka’s campaign. The captain had already played a significant role in her team’s run to the Women’s Asia Cup final earlier this month and again produced a decisive innings on the Asian Games stage.
Sri Lanka will now prepare for the gold-medal match, while Pakistan will seek to recover from the semifinal defeat and secure bronze in their final match of the tournament.
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