Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu once again proved why she remains the heartbeat of her side, delivering a decisive all-round performance to guide Sri Lanka Women to a four-wicket victory over West Indies Women in the second T20I at Grenada. The win gives the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series after the opening match was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.
On a surface that offered little pace and punished mistimed strokes, Sri Lanka’s bowlers laid the foundation before Athapaththu’s explosive start with the bat ensured the chase never drifted completely out of reach, despite a late wobble that briefly brought the hosts back into contention.
Asked to bat first, West Indies Women never truly found fluency and limped to 101 for 9 in their 20 overs. The innings promised more than it delivered, with starts failing to turn into meaningful partnerships on a pitch that increasingly slowed under lights. Athapaththu, opening the bowling as she had in the washed-out first T20I, struck early despite conceding runs initially. Her dismissal of Qiana Joseph, sneaking one past a wild swipe to clip the off stump marked her first T20I wicket in the Caribbean since 2018 and immediately set the tone.
A brief rebuilding phase followed as skipper Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor steadied the innings, but scoring remained laboured. Matthews, attempting to break the shackles, fell for a team-high 28, miscuing Athapaththu to the deep. The middle overs became increasingly difficult as Sri Lanka’s bowlers leaned into variations. Malki Madara was particularly effective, mixing slower balls and cutters to devastating effect. She dismissed Shermaine Campbell and Jannilea Glasgow in quick succession, tightening the screws as West Indies ran out of partners.
The innings ended in chaotic fashion when No.11 Karishma Ramharack was adjudged out obstructing the field while attempting a desperate second run, an unusual dismissal that summed up West Indies’ frustrating evening. Incidentally, it was the second time in less than two weeks that Deandra Dottin had been part of a West Indies innings featuring an obstruction dismissal.
Sri Lanka’s reply began with authority. Athapaththu was instantly aggressive, taking on Matthews in the opening overs with a blend of power and precision. The only one of the innings, underlined her intent to finish the chase early. By the end of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka were cruising at 45 without loss, with the captain dominating proceedings while Hasini Perera played a supporting role. At that stage, the target appeared routine.
However, West Indies clawed their way back into the contest once Athapaththu fell lbw for a commanding 39. What followed was a dramatic slowdown, Sri Lanka managed just 12 runs in the six overs after her dismissal, losing wickets at regular intervals as the pressure mounted. For a brief period, the chase threatened to unravel entirely. From 74 for 1, Sri Lanka slipped to 74 for 5, reviving memories of collapses past and injecting belief into the West Indies camp.
Ultimately, the modest target proved decisive. With runs still required, Kavisha Dilhari showed composure beyond her years, guiding Sri Lanka home without further drama to finish the chase in 18.1 overs. The result not only handed Sri Lanka a crucial lead in the series but also reinforced Athapaththu’s value as a match-winner across disciplines, an impact reflected in her Player of the Match award.
With momentum now firmly on their side, Sri Lanka will look to close out the series, while West Indies are left searching for answers after another batting effort that promised more than it produced.
