DERBY, UK: Sri Lanka Women handed Pakistan Women a humbling nine-wicket defeat in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match at the County Ground on Saturday, chasing down a target of 169 runs in just 18.4 overs courtesy of a record-breaking 159-run opening stand between captain Chamari Athapaththu (94 off 58) and Vishmi Gunaratne (63 not out off 50).
Sri Lanka cruise home in #T20WorldCup warm-up thanks to a dominant 160-run opening stand between Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunarathne 👏
All warm-up matches are being streamed LIVE and FREE on https://t.co/5AuGFN3SRa and the official ICC channel on YouTube 📺 pic.twitter.com/3jSFkpIpf8
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 6, 2026
Pakistan’s batting: A tale of two halves
Earlier, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bat. Openers Muneeba Ali (36 off 21) and Gull Feroza (26 off 23) raced to 60 in the seventh over, promising a total well beyond 180. But Chethana Vimukthi’s four-wicket haul (4 for 31) triggered a middle-order collapse. From 60 for no loss, Pakistan slipped to 105 for 6, losing six wickets for just 45 runs.
Fatima Sana then played a captain’s knock, 37 off 26 balls with four boundaries and a six, and added 41 runs with Aliya Riaz (22 off 16) to drag Pakistan to 168 for 8. On any other day, against any other batting lineup, that total might have been defendable.
Sri Lanka’s ruthless response
But Athapaththu had other plans. The Sri Lankan captain walked out with intent from the very first ball, dismantling Pakistan’s bowling attack with brutal efficiency. She struck nine fours and five sixes, racing to 94 at a strike rate of 162.06. Gunaratne played the perfect supporting role, rotating strike and finding boundaries at will, finishing unbeaten on 63.
The pair chased down 159 runs for the first wicket before Athapaththu finally fell in the 18th over, caught by Natalia Pervaiz off Fatima Sana, just six runs short of a well-deserved century. Harshitha Samarawickrama (4 not out) finished the job alongside Gunaratne as Sri Lanka crossed the line with 1.2 overs to spare.
Pakistan’s bowlers endured a night to forget. Tuba Hassan (0 for 32 in 4 overs), Nashra Sandhu (0 for 32 in 3 overs), and Sadia Iqbal (0 for 27 in 3 overs) all went wicketless. Rameen Shamim (0 for 25 in 3 overs) and Tasmia Rubab (0 for 30 in 3.4 overs) fared no better. Captain Fatima Sana was the only wicket-taker, finishing with 1 for 20 in 2 overs, but by then, the damage had long been done.
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan Women by 9 wickets in warm-up match of T20 World Cup 2026 in Derbyshire 🏏 pic.twitter.com/Qb7YXYDjZy
— Shahzaib Ali 🇵🇰 (@DSBcricket) June 6, 2026
For Pakistan, this warm-up defeat serves as a harsh reality check. Their batting depth remains a concern, and their bowling attack, once considered their strength, looked toothless against an aggressive Sri Lankan top order. For Sri Lanka, the result is a statement: with Athapaththu in this form, they will fear no opponent in the main tournament.
As the teams now prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup proper, Pakistan will need to regroup quickly. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will carry the momentum of this nine-wicket demolition into the competition.
