By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka Women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu struck a Player of the Match record equaling third T20 century off 69 balls packed as the host nation crushed Malaysia by 144 runs for their second win at the Women’s Asia Cup with 15-year-old wrist spinner Gimhani making a dream entry 3 for 15 at the Rangiri Dambulla Interntional Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The Lankan Women bundled out the Malaysians for 40 in 19.5 overs having run up 184 for 4 off 20 after taking first lease on winning the toss. Athapaththu slammed 14 boundaries and 7 sixes scoring 119 off 69 balls in adding 69 for the second-wicket off 43 balls with Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama 26 off 23 with 5 boundaries after Vishmi Gunaratne had been removed for 1 by Suabika Manivannan.

The Lankan captain went into top gear racing to her half century off 35 balls. slamming back-to-back sixes off her opposite number Winifred Duraisingam in an innings that was not without blemish with Athapaththu surviving a dropped catch on 56 in the 12th over

Athapaththu made the most of that life in a 68-run onslaught smashing 5 over the top and a boundary off the last three overs as Sri Lanka added 99 in the final 9 overs on the way posting 115 for the third-wicket off 62 balls with Anushka Sanjeewani 31 off 24 (4×4) hit one four and five sixes in the last three overs.

Malaysia Women came apart before the coordinated Lankan attack with Shashini Gimhani backed by Kavisha Dilhari 2 for 4 and Kawya Kavindi 2 for 7 sharing in seven of the wickets.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka Women 184/4 (20 Overs)

(Chamari Athapaththu n.o. 119, Anushka Sanjeewani 31, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama 26, Winifred Duraisingham 2/34, Mahirah Izzati Ismail 1/23, Suabika Manivannan 1/32)

Malaysia Women 40 (19.5 Overs)

(Elsa Hunter 10, Shashini Gimhani 3/9, Kavisha Dilhari 2/4, Kawya Kavindi 2/7, Sachini Nisansala 1/4, Ama Kanchana 1/5, Inoshi Priyadharshani 1/10)