Chamari Athapaththu secures ground-breaking feat, becomes first-ever player to...

Sri Lanka Women's captain Chamari Athapaththu accomplished a major record on Tuesday during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match against Ireland in Bristol, England. The cricketer smashed a hundred during the match, making her the first player in the world to score a hundred during a run chase in a women's T20 World Cup match.

Athapaththu was clinical during Sri Lanka's chase, scoring an unbeaten 106 off just 61 deliveries against Ireland in the group-stage match at the women's T20 World Cup. The Sri Lankan Women completed the chase in 15.3 overs, securing a nine-wicket win at the Gloucestershire Cricket Ground.

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Athapaththu seals huge record with smashing century

Athapaththu officially surpassed West Indies' Shemaine Campbelle to secure the highest score in a run chase at the Women's T20 World Cup. The list also includes Marizanne Kapp (81*), Sarah Taylor (76*), Sophie Devine (75*) and Anneke Bosch (74*).

The West Indies cricketer had scored an unbeaten 90 against New Zealand in the ongoing tournament at Southampton, briefly topping the charts before the Sri Lankan women's captain dethroned her with a dominant showcase against Ireland.

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Sri Lankan captain registered her fourth hundred in women’s T20 cricket, moving to second place on the all-time list of most centuries in women’s T20 internationals. UAE’s Esha Oza currently tops the chart with five tons.

Sri Lanka Women face uphill battle to reach the next stage

Sri Lanka Women are coming off a commanding victory in Bristol, but they are still far from contention for advancing to the next round. The team is currently No. 4 in the Group B points table after two wins and two losses in four match appearances so far.

The Athapaththu-led Sri Lanka lost to England in their opening fixture and were then defeated by the West Indies. But the wins over Ireland and the New Zealand White Ferns have helped them gain crucial points.

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Sri Lanka will face Scotland in their next Women's T20 World Cup group stage fixture on Friday, June 26, at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, England.