ATHAPATHTHU SHINES AS SRI LANKA MAKE A STATEMENT

Media release

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu made a statement of intent by blasting 94 as her side beat Pakistan by nine wickets in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match.

South Africa and New Zealand were among the day’s other winners, with Laura Wolvaardt and Amelia Kerr in the runs against Ireland and Bangladesh respectively, while Scotland defeated the Netherlands.

Athapaththu leads the charge

Pakistan batted first in Derby and started well, with Muneeba Ali (36) and Gull Feroza (26) posting 60 for the opening wicket.

Muneeba fell to Chethana Vimukthi, the first of four scalps for the Sri Lankan seamer, sparking a wobble which saw Pakistan slip to 105 for six.

Skipper Fatima Sana’s 26-ball 37 dragged them to 168 for eight but Sri Lanka made light work of the chase.

Athapaththu fired nine fours and five sixes in her sparkling 94 from 58 deliveries, falling with the job all but done.

Her opening partner Vishmi Gunarathne contributed 63 not out, with three fours and three sixes, as Sri Lanka eased home with nine balls to spare.

South Africa squeak past Ireland

Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp made valuable contributions as South Africa defeated Ireland by 15 runs in a low-scoring encounter which was reduced to 18 overs-a-side.

Wolvaardt struck seven fours and three sixes in her entertaining 66 from 39 balls but fell in the midst of a collapse which saw the Proteas slip from 112 for two to 134 for eight, with Arlene Kelly taking three for 29.

Cara Murray (2/13) and Ava Canning (2/8) also impressed with the ball for Ireland, but they were soon in trouble in reply as Kapp removed both openers cheaply.

Leah Paul top-scored with 29 but became the seamer’s third victim as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, Kapp ended with four for 24 before Tumi Sekhukhune wrapped it up with the final two wickets as Ireland were dismissed for 120 with two balls remaining.

Kerr in form as White Ferns win

A half-century from skipper Amelia Kerr and Nensi Patel’s four-wicket haul led New Zealand to a 68-run victory over Bangladesh.

Kerr made an unbeaten 51 from 28 balls on a day which proved fruitful for the Kiwi top order. Georgia Plimmer (28), Suzie Bates (45) and Izzy Sharp (46) also chipped in, Sharp blasting three sixes in her 26-ball knock, while Flora Devonshire added 20 not out from eight deliveries at the death.

Ritu Moni took two for 36 for Bangladesh, who lost two early wickets in reply. Opener Juairiya Ferdous led a recovery of sorts with 26 from 15 balls but Bangladesh had no answer to Patel, who finished with four for 18 from three overs.

Captain Nigar Sultana compiled an unbeaten 32 but her side finished comfortably adrift of their target.

Fraser and Fontenla shine for Scotland

Katherine Fraser’s three wickets helped Scotland beat the Netherlands by 58 runs in Derby.

Scotland batted first and lost Fraser for a second ball duck but Darcey Carter (33) and captain Kathryn Bryce (32) steadied the ship.

Priyanaz Chatterji’s unbeaten 32 from 20 balls provided late momentum as Scotland finished on 163 for five, with Silver Siegers (2/15) the pick of the Dutch attack.

Gabriella Fontenla, who only turned 18 earlier this week, struck twice early on, including the prized scalp of skipper Babette De Leede, to help reduce the Netherlands to 13 for three.

Phebe Molkenboer (25) and Frederique Overdijk (28 not out) were the only batters to make meaningful contributions, with the former among Fraser’s scalps as the Dutch fell to 105 all out.

Scores in brief

Scotland v Netherlands – County Ground, Derby

Scotland 163/5 in 20 overs (Darcey Carter 33, Priyanaz Chatterji 32 not out; Silver Siegers 2/15, Myrthe van den Raad 1/12)

Netherlands 105 all out in 20 overs (Frederique Overdijk 28 not out, Phebe Molkenboer 25; Katherine Fraser 3/21, Gabriella Fontenla 2/2)

Result: Scotland win by 58 runs

South Africa v Ireland – Loughborough University, Loughborough

South Africa 135/8 in 18 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 66, Annerie Dercksen 26; Arlene Kelly 3/29, Ava Canning 2/8)

Ireland 120 in 17.4 overs (Leah Paul 29, Rebecca Stokell 19; Marizanne Kapp 4/24, Tumi Sekhukhune 2/18)

Result: South Africa win by 15 runs

Sri Lanka v Pakistan – County Ground, Derby

Pakistan 168/8 in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 37, Muneeba Ali 36; Chethana Vimukthi 4/31, Nimasha Meepage 1/16)

Sri Lanka 169/1 in 18.3 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 94, Vishmi Gunarathne 63 not out; Fatima Sana 1/20)

Result: Sri Lanka win by nine wickets

New Zealand v Bangladesh – Loughborough University, Loughborough

New Zealand 193/3 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 51 not out, Izzy Sharp 46; Ritu Moni 2/36, Nahida Akter 1/48)

Bangladesh 125/8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 32 not out, Juairiya Ferdous 26; Nensi Patel 4/18, Lea Tahuhu 1/12)

Result: New Zealand win by 68 runs