Sri Lanka Women crushed UAE Women by 9 wickets in the second match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai. After being invited to bat first, UAE Women struggled against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack. Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi (3/16 in 4 overs) and Mithali Ayodhya Bandara (3/14 in 3.5 overs) destroyed the UAE batting line-up with their accurate bowling. As a result, UAE Women were bowled out for just 79 runs with one ball remaining in their innings. Esha Oza was the top scorer for UAE Women.

In reply, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a powerful unbeaten knock of 48 off 25 balls. Her aggressive batting helped Sri Lanka complete the chase in just 7.5 overs, with 73 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka Make the Most of Seam-Friendly Conditions

Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu won the toss and decided to bowl first, a decision that quickly paid off because the conditions offered plenty of assistance to the seamers. She handed the new ball to 19-year-old pacer Mithali Ayodhya, who made an immediate impact. Ayodhya struck with only the fourth delivery of the match, getting the ball to move late into UAE opener Theertha Satish.

Satish played the ball onto her own stumps and was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Vimukthi, making her T20I debut, then continued Sri Lanka's excellent start. She repeatedly found movement away from the UAE batters and consistently troubled their outside edges.

In her second over, Vimukthi claimed her first T20I wicket. A cross-seam delivery around off stump held its line and beat Lavanya Keny, who was unable to adjust to the pace and movement. The ball crashed into the top of off stump, leaving Keny bowled for just 3 off 11 balls.

UAE captain Esha Oza hit the first boundary of their innings in the fifth over. However, it provided little relief as UAE reached only 22/2 after the powerplay.

UAE Struggle Under Constant Pressure

Sri Lanka continued to dominate during the middle overs. Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari added further pressure after coming into the attack. Kumari soon removed Oza for 18 off 24 balls. The Sri Lankan spinner tossed the ball up outside off, tempting the UAE captain into playing an attacking shot. Oza failed to execute it properly and lost her wicket.

UAE nearly suffered another setback soon after. Chamudi Praboda came close to stumping Samaira Dharnidharka after beating her with a flighted delivery.

Dharnidharka attempted to drive but missed the ball. She only just managed to get her back foot inside the crease before the wicketkeeper could remove the bails. UAE struggled to build any momentum and lost their fourth wicket with only 38 runs on the board.

Rinitha Rajith briefly provided some resistance. She struck two boundaries and looked determined to attack the Sri Lankan bowlers. Dharnidharka also managed two boundaries before being dismissed by Kavisha Dilhari.

Dilhari used a slower delivery to dismiss Dharnidharka for 17 off 25 balls. Sri Lanka then brought back Vimukthi and Ayodhya for the closing overs. Both bowlers picked up two wickets each in their final overs, completing a superb bowling performance and dismissing UAE for 79.

Athapaththu Leads Sri Lanka's Rapid Chase

Sri Lanka's response was equally impressive. Opener Imesha Dulani immediately found the boundary and helped Sri Lanka make a fast start. Athapaththu joined the attack with several powerful strokes as the pair scored more than half of the required runs inside the first five overs.

Athapaththu also hit the first six of the match. She stepped down the pitch and launched Oza's delivery over mid-off. The six also took Athapaththu to 500 runs in the Women's Asia Cup, making her the first batter to reach the landmark.

Unbeaten Athapaththu Finishes the Job

Dulani was eventually dismissed in an unfortunate run-out. Athapaththu drove a full delivery straight back towards the bowler. The ball struck the bowler's hand during an attempted fielding effort and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Dulani was caught short of her crease and had to depart. However, her dismissal did little to slow Sri Lanka's progress. Athapaththu remained unbeaten and finished the match in style.

She smashed two fours and a six in her next nine balls, taking Sri Lanka comfortably across the finish line. The captain's unbeaten 48 off 25 balls ensured Sri Lanka completed a convincing nine-wicket victory with 73 balls to spare.

Brief Scorecard