Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya starred with the ball as Sri Lanka began their 2026 Asia Cup title defence with a commanding win against UAE in Dubai.

The duo, well supported by the rest of Sri Lanka’s attack, combined to bowl UAE out for 79 with one ball remaining in the innings. In reply, Chamari Athapaththu  wasted no time, blasting an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls to help Sri Lanka cruise to a nine-wicket victory with 73 balls to go.

Sri Lanka ace the conditions

With conditions offering plenty for seamers, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu opted to bowl, handing the new ball to 19-year-old slinger Ayodhya. She made an immediate impact, striking with the fourth ball of the innings, getting one to swerve late into opener Theertha Satish, who played on to her stumps to depart for a two-ball duck.

Vimukthi, making her T20I debut, then repeatedly found movement away, beating both UAE batters’ outside edges. She continued to test them outside off in her second over as well and was rewarded with her first T20I wicket when a cross-seam delivery on off held its line, beating Lavanya Keny for pace and movement as she played inside the line. The ball crashed into the top of off stump, leaving Keny bowled for just 3 off 11.

UAE’s first boundary came in the fifth over courtesy captain Esha Oza but it was their only respite in a difficult powerplay as they struggled to 22 for 2 from the first six overs.

UAE feel the pressure

Sri Lanka continued to squeeze UAE through the middle overs, with the introduction of left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari adding to their troubles. Her second over brought a wicket, as she dismissed Oza for 18 off 24, tempting the UAE captain into a loose shot with a tossed-up delivery just outside off.

UAE would have lost another wicket soon after as Chamudi Praboda nearly had Samaira Dharnidharka stumped with a flighted delivery on off that drifted in. Dharnidharka was beaten while attempting to drive, but she just managed to ground her back foot before the wicketkeeper could whip off the bails.

UAE’s innings never really gathered momentum as they lost their fourth wicket for just 38 runs before Rinitha Rajith provided a brief spark. She struck two boundaries and looked intent on taking the attack on, while Dharnidharka also found the fence twice before falling to a slower ball from Kavisha Dilhari for 17 off 25.

Vimukthi and Ayodhya returned at the death to take two wickets each off their respective last overs to bowl UAE out for 79.

Athapaththu does it her way

Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani got off the mark with a boundary, setting the tone for the chase and racing through the opening three overs.  Athapaththu too chipped in with big hits as the duo plundered more than half the runs required within five overs.

Athapaththu also hit the first six of the match, dancing down the track to launch Oza over mid-off. The shot also took her to 500 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup, making her the first batter to reach the milestone.

Dulani, however, was run out in unfortunate circumstances as Athapaththu drove a full delivery straight back at the bowler, whose attempted fielding effort deflected the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, catching Dulani short of her ground. But Athapaththu made sure there were no further hiccups, smashing two fours and a six in the next nine balls to help Sri Lanka coast to a win.

Scores:
Sri Lanka 80 for 1 in 7.54 overs (Imesha Dulani 25, Chamari Athapaththu 48*) beat UAE 79 in 19.5 overs  (Esha Oza 18, Heena Hotchandani 10, Samaira Dhanidharka 17, Rinitha Rajith 15; Mithali Ayodhya 3-14, Chethana Vimukthi 3-16, Sugandika Kumari 2-18, Chamari Athapaththu 1-10, Kavisha Dilhari 1-09) by nine wickets

[Cricinfo]

by Rex Clementine

In the history of Test cricket, we have witnessed some epic rearguard actions that have saved the day.

Our coach Gary Kirsten himself once batted for 14 and half hours after England enforced the follow on in Durban. Sir Garfield Sobers did something similar when he occupied the crease for many hours to save the Lord’s Test of 1963.

Then, again at Lord’s, Mahela Jayawardene led from the front in 2006. Sri Lanka were forced to follow on after conceding a first innings deficit of 359 runs, but MJ produced a masterclass. With six other Sri Lankans posting half centuries, the tourists pulled off one of their greatest escapes.

And then, this week, came Sonal Dinusha.

What truly remarkable batting that was.

There is, however, one significant difference between Dinusha and those other greats. Kirsten, MJ and Sir Garry were all seasoned campaigners. Dinusha is a rookie playing just his fifth Test.

What was so impressive about the 25-year-old was how organised he was. He didn’t lose patience. He didn’t get carried away. There was no rush of blood.

These are hardly traits we associate with young players in modern cricket. We see them flashing outside off stump. We see them charging down the track wanting to take the spinners to the cleaners. We see them engaging opponents and getting sucked into needless scraps.

Dinusha, though, is different.

But how come? In this day and age of the IPL and instant gratification, how have we unearthed a cricketer with such temperament?

There is little doubt that this is a special kid and a special talent. Hopefully, Sri Lanka can dream big. Head Coach Gary Kirsten called it one of Sri Lanka’s finest match saving knocks.

“I love the way he plays Test cricket. He understands what the bowlers are trying to do to him. This innings today will go down in history as one of the best match-saving knocks for Sri Lanka.”

Dinusha batted for seven hours in the second innings. The fact that he had also scored a hundred in the first innings, having already made another century in Galle, makes his achievement even more extraordinary. He finished the series with 420 runs in four innings.

That was some insane batting. Let’s hope the kid keeps going.

Despite the series defeat, there were other positives for Sri Lanka. The manner in which Pasindu Sooriyabandara batted and the composure young spinner Keshara Nuwantha showcased when the team was under the cosh after yet another collapse were encouraging signs.

The lower order played impressive roles too. Lahiru Kumara batted like a champion and frankly, put some of the opening batters and the captain to shame.

Several Indian players turned up at the SSC on the final morning probably thinking this would be a quick finish and they would soon be heading home. Some might even have fancied squeezing in a bit of last minute shopping.

Dinusha and Sri Lanka’s tail had other ideas.

Those plans went out of the window as the lower order showed remarkable resolve, eating up overs and frustrating an Indian attack that had arrived expecting to administer the last rites.

“Really impressed with some of the young batters who have shown their mettle in Test match cricket. Apart from Sonal Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, everyone put their hearts together, fighting as hard as we could to save the Test match. The character shown by everyone pleased me,” Kirsten said.

The fast bowling was top notch too. Both Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando had their moments and provided another useful reminder that Sri Lanka do not always have to turn to raging turners to win Test matches. Quicks can win you games too.

By Anura Tennekoon

Sonal Dinusha, Sri Lanka’s number six batter, played the innings of a lifetime when he batted throughout the fifth day of the second Test against India to earn his side a hard-fought draw.

At the start of the final day, Sri Lanka were six wickets down and held a lead of just 16 runs. It was not a pretty picture. Few in their right mind would have given Sri Lanka much chance of surviving even until the lunch break, with India seemingly poised to complete a comprehensive victory.

Sonal, however, had other ideas. He resolved to bat as deep into the day as possible, finding willing allies among the lower order. They combined determination and patience with controlled aggression and sound defence. It caught the Indian bowlers by surprise. An attack that had looked lethal earlier in the game gradually began to lose its sting and direction.

The two overnight batters survived the entire morning session, adding 113 runs from 265 deliveries. After lunch, Nuwantha was eventually dismissed for a well-compiled 46, but by then Sri Lanka had begun to believe.

Lahiru Kumara, the burly fast bowler, joined Sonal in the middle and ensured India would have no easy route back into the contest. He did exactly what was required of him, dropping anchor and occupying the crease for 90 deliveries while scoring just 12 runs. Runs were almost irrelevant by then; survival was everything.

The pair batted through the tea break and beyond, taking Sri Lanka towards safety. It was a supreme batting effort, led magnificently by Sonal and aided and abetted by the bowlers at the other end.

I have hardly touched upon Sonal’s own contribution with the bat to this remarkable rescue mission. He employed the sweep, both orthodox and unorthodox, to excellent effect and scored most of his runs by placing the ball judiciously into the gaps and accumulating steadily. It was an innings of the highest order.

If I may point out one flaw, it was his reluctance to play the cover drive and off-drive, thereby depriving himself of some valuable scoring opportunities. But that is a minor observation in what was otherwise a stupendous batting effort for which no amount of praise can be too much.

A thing of beauty is indeed a joy forever, and this was an innings to remember.

Now that you have got off to such a flying start in your Test career, lad, keep improving and keep reaching for the skies.

My very best wishes to you in all your cricketing endeavours.