Dubai: Chamari Athapaththu produced a magnificent, career-best seven-wicket haul for just 5 runs as Sri Lanka bowled out Indonesia for a mere 49, while Nilakshika Silva’s resolute half-century steered Sri Lanka to a modest total of 124/7. Despite Indonesia’s clinical bowling display, Sri Lanka sealed a commanding 75-run victory in the sixth match of the T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday, 2 September.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka suffered an early collapse, slipping to 62/6 after 13 overs, before Nilakshika Silva sparked a remarkable recovery with a resolute knock of 50 off 35 balls, helping Sri Lanka post a competitive total of 124/7. The captain, Chamari Athapaththu, then took the upper hand and stole the show with an electrifying seven-wicket haul for just 5 runs, including a hat-trick in the final over, as Sri Lanka bowled out Indonesia for just 49 in 18.3 overs.
The match began with Indonesia winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Indonesia delivered a clinical and disciplined bowling display, combining the spin of Ni Kadek Ariani (1/23) and Sang Ayu Nyoman Maypriani (2/19) with the slow-medium seam of Ni Luh Dewi (3/32), as Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum with the bat and slipped to 64/6 at the end of the 13th over. However, Nilakshika Silva provided a much-needed recovery, accelerating the innings after Sri Lanka’s early struggles against Indonesia’s tight bowling. She took charge of the batting and found perfect support from Kawya Kavindi (15 off 19), as the pair stitched together a crucial 50-run partnership off 36 balls for the seventh wicket. Nilakshika Silva brought up a superb half-century off 35 balls, with three boundaries, and registered her third T20I half-century while batting at the No. 6 position. She unfortunately lost her wicket on the very next ball, but her pivotal innings proved crucial as Sri Lanka finished on 124/7 after 20 overs.
In the chase, Indonesia started well, hitting a couple of boundaries before Sri Lanka introduced the spinners. Chamari Athapaththu made an immediate impact, dismissing Rahmawati Pangestuti (10 off 14) and Ni Luh Dewi (1 off 4), before removing Maria Corazon (6 off 10) and Ni Kadek Fitria Rada Rani with consecutive deliveries, while falling just short of a hat-trick as her yorker narrowly missed Desi Wulandari’s off stump. But Wulandari was soon after dismissed by Kavisha Dilhari, leaving Indonesia in deep trouble at 29/5 after 10 overs. However, Athapaththu continued her devastating bowling spell and wrapped up the tail with a sensational hat-trick in the final over, removing Ni Kadek Ariani (2 off 3), Sang Ayu Nyoman Maypriani for a duck, and Agung Laksmi for a duck. With a sensational hat-trick, Chamari Athapaththu entered the history books by becoming the first player to take seven wickets in an Asia Cup match, across both men’s and women’s cricket. The previous record for the best bowling figures in an Asia Cup match was held by Pakistan’s Javeria Khan, who claimed six wickets in a 2008 Women’s Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in Dambulla. Athapaththu’s bowling figures are now the fifth-best in Women’s T20Is and mark only the sixth instance of a bowler taking seven or more wickets in a Women’s T20I.
The best bowling figures in Women’s T20Is are: Laura Cardoso — 9/4 for Brazil in 2026; Rohmalia Rohmalia — 7/0 for Indonesia in 2024; Frederique Overdijk — 7/3 for the Netherlands in 2021; Alison Stocks — 7/3 for Argentina in 2022; and Chamari Athapaththu — 7/5 for Sri Lanka in 2026. Athapaththu finished with majestic figures of 7 wickets for just 5 runs in 3.3 overs, with Indonesia all out for 49 as Sri Lanka secured their second successive victory in the Asia Cup and moved to the top of Group B. Athapaththu deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award for her outstanding match-winning performance.
Sri Lanka will now face Bangladesh on Sunday, 6 September, while Indonesia will take on the UAE on Friday, 4 September.
