Sri Lanka’s stuttering Women’s T20 World Cup campaign hit another snag in Bristol, a five-wicket defeat to West Indies leaving Chamari Athapaththu’s side rooted in fifth place in Group 2 and requiring what looks like a minor miracle to reach the last four.
West Indies chased down 99 with 23 balls to spare after Sri Lanka folded for 98, Athapaththu making only 2 on a surface that offered just enough carry for disciplined seam bowling. England and West Indies boast three wins from three, while New Zealand and Scotland hold healthier net run rates. Sri Lanka, two wins from three, must beat Ireland tomorrow and Scotland next week, and then hope the arithmetic tilts their way.
The captain did not hide from her own contribution. “Actually, it’s a sadness beyond words,” she said, moments after walking off the outfield. “I think I played around 18 years for the national team and I could never get a chance to take my team into a semi-final of a World Cup.”
She went further. “Even though I have achieved many things personally, I think I’m a failure as a captain, because I think that’s big pain for a player. Actually, now I have to be with that pain.”
At 36, Athapaththu has featured in every edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, and the next one, pencilled in for Pakistan in 2028, feels some distance away. Asked if she will push on, she replied: “For now, I can’t give any explanation about that, because with my age, now I’m 36 years old. So, with fitness and all, that’s being decided. So, I try my best to keep my physical fitness in a good level, and to keep my skills in a high level. If the team wants, I will play in the future, but with my performance level and fitness level, it will be decided if I play or not.”
Sri Lanka’s dressing room has stayed publicly supportive. One member of the support staff, speaking off record, put it bluntly: “We’ve still got two games, we still control some of it.” Yet everyone realises the path is steep. Net run rate could become the deciding metric, and Sri Lanka’s currently sits in the red after the heavy loss.
The immediate task is Ireland in Bristol. The Irish bowlers can swing the new ball, but their batting has struggled for tempo, so a disciplined Powerplay – six overs at the top when only two fielders patrol the rope – may be enough to tilt momentum. After that comes Scotland in Manchester, a side that upset Sri Lanka in a warm-up only a fortnight ago.
Athapaththu remains philosophical. “I think I tried my best, I think I should have played more responsible than this and if I have played more responsible than this today, we could have won this match today. So, I regret that… I feel like I lost my last chance.”
Whether or not that is truly her final tilt at a World Cup semi-final, Sri Lanka have little time for reflection: two must-win matches in four days, and then the calculators come out.
