Chamari Athapaththu Scripts History with Record-Breaking 7-Wicket Haul in Women’s Asia Cup

DUBAI – Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu produced an otherworldly bowling performance on Thursday, dismantling Indonesia’s batting lineup to propel the defending champions to the top of Group B in the Women’s Asia Cup.

In a match where Sri Lanka looked vulnerable after posting a modest total, Athapaththu turned the tide with a clinical display of spin bowling. Her figures of 7/5 in just 21 balls not only dismantled the Indonesian side for a paltry 49 but also etched her name into the record books.

A Historic Spell

Defending a total of 124, Athapaththu entered the attack in the fourth over and immediately wreaked havoc. After claiming three wickets in her first over, she continued her momentum to become the first bowler from a Full Member nation to take seven wickets in a women’s T20 International.

The previous record for the best bowling figures in women’s T20Is was held by Zimbabwe’s Esther Mbofana, who claimed 6/11 against Eswatini in 2021. Athapaththu’s achievement marks a new benchmark for individual brilliance in the format, confirming her status as one of the game’s all-time greats.

The Turnaround

The victory was not a straightforward affair for the defending champions. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka found themselves in dire straits at 62/6 on a slow-paced Dubai surface. It took a resilient, counter-attacking half-century from Nilakshika Silva—who smashed 50 off 35 deliveries—to lift Sri Lanka to a defendable 124/7. Indonesia’s Ni Luh Dewi had threatened an upset earlier, finishing with impressive figures of 3/32.

However, once the chase began, the Indonesian batters had no answer for the Sri Lankan skipper. Only Ni Made Putri Suwandewi (12*) and Rahmawati Pangestuti (10) reached double figures, as the team crumbled under the pressure of Athapaththu’s record-breaking spell.

Broader Context

With this dominant 75-run victory, Sri Lanka has surged to the top of the Group B standings. Meanwhile, in Group A, the tournament favorites India maintain their lead, followed by Pakistan in second place.

The day also proved historic for Indian cricket. During India’s clash against Hong Kong in Dubai, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana surpassed the legendary Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer for India in women’s international cricket across all formats, marking a landmark day for South Asian cricket on the global stage.