Sri Lanka Women booked their place in the 2026 Asian Games cricket gold medal match with an impressive eight wicket victory over Pakistan, powered by a brilliant unbeaten innings from captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Facing a challenging target of 178 in the first semi-final at Nisshin, Japan, Sri Lanka produced a superb run chase to reach 178 for two in 17.5 overs, sealing victory with 13 balls remaining. The result earned Sri Lanka a place in the final against India, while Pakistan moved into the bronze medal playoff.
Pakistan had earlier posted a competitive 177 for four from their 20 overs after recovering from a difficult start.
Gull Feroza was dismissed from the very first delivery of the match, while Saira Jabeen departed with Pakistan on 35 for two. However, Ayesha Zafar and Shawaal Zulfiqar rebuilt the innings with an outstanding 115-run partnership for the third wicket.
Ayesha produced an aggressive 71 from just 40 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes. Shawaal provided important support with 54 from 50 balls, while captain Fatima Sana added an unbeaten 20 from 12 deliveries to help Pakistan finish strongly.
Sri Lanka’s chase began positively through Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani.
The pair added 36 for the opening wicket before Dulani was bowled by Fatima Sana for 27. Any hopes Pakistan had of using that breakthrough to regain control quickly disappeared as Athapaththu took charge.
The Sri Lankan captain combined with Hasini Perera for a match winning 95 run partnership from 56 balls. Perera struck 42 from 26 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes, providing exactly the attacking support Athapaththu needed.
Athapaththu was outstanding throughout the chase.
The experienced left hander finished unbeaten on 83 from 50 balls, smashing seven fours and six sixes. Her controlled aggression kept Sri Lanka comfortably ahead of the required run rate and prevented Pakistan from building sustained pressure.
Perera eventually fell with Sri Lanka still needing 47 runs from the final six overs, but Athapaththu continued attacking alongside Harshitha Samarawickrama.
The pair added an unbeaten 47 from just 23 deliveries, with Samarawickrama contributing 17 not out, as Sri Lanka completed the chase in style.
The eight-wicket victory represents another major achievement for Sri Lanka women’s cricket and gives the team an opportunity to compete for one of the biggest prizes available at the Asian Games.
Athapaththu’s performance was particularly important. As captain and one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced international players, she once again delivered when her team needed her most, turning what could have been a difficult chase into a convincing victory.
Sri Lanka will now meet India in the gold medal match on September 22, after India comfortably defeated Bangladesh in the other semi final.
The final promises to be a major test for both teams. India enter as defending Asian Games champions, while Sri Lanka will carry significant confidence after successfully chasing 178 against Pakistan with more than two overs remaining.
For Sri Lanka, the opportunity is now clear.
After an outstanding semi final performance led by their captain, the Lionesses are just one victory away from Asian Games cricket gold.
