{
  "id": 42816,
  "title": "Sanjana Kavindi, Chamari Athapaththu star as all-round Sri Lanka canter to series win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/sanjana-kavindi-chamari-athapaththu-star-as-all-round-sri-lanka",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T12:19:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/sanjana-kavindi-chamari-athapaththu-star-as-all-round-sri-lanka-canter-to-series-win/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Sri Lankan women's cricket team secured a dominant victory over Pakistan Women, winning the series 2-0 after also sweeping the ODI series. In the T20I, batting debutant Sanjana Kavindi, just 17, shone with a valiant 46 runs off 24 balls, propelling the team to chase down a target of 176 set by Pakistan. Leading the charge, Chamari Athapaththu, who had earlier set the tone with 40 off 15 balls, was dismissed with 55. Despite this, Sri Lanka's middle order, featuring Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Harshitha Samarawickrama, pushed forward relentlessly. Sanjana's boundary count grew rapidly, including 14 off 10 balls in the crucial powerplay. Her aggressive start included two sixes off Pakistan's left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu. Sanjana fell just after this impressive display, but her contribution was instrumental in securing the win. The bowling department also delivered, with 17-year-old Chamudi Prabodha's left-arm spin taking 2 for 27, marking her second international appearance. The match saw Pakistan's Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar post strong starts with 45 and 48 respectively, but they were unable to contain Sri Lanka's determined batting. Eyman Fatima and Kavisha Dilhari provided a steady finish with 30 and 14 respectively. In response, Sri Lanka posted a formidable 178 for 4 in their 17.4 overs, with Kavindi's rapid 46 setting the pace. They overcame Pakistan's 175 for 5 in 20 overs by six wickets, thus clinching the series with one match remaining.",
  "summary": "Sri Lanka’s batters aced their second chase in a row, as 17-year-old debutant Sanjana Kavindi top-scored with 46 off 24 to help Sri Lanka race to a target of 176 against Pakistan. Chamari Athapaththu had lit the thrusters under the innings with 40 off 15 at the top of the order, but although she fell […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Sanjana Kavindi scores 46 runs off 24 balls in T20I debut",
    "Chamari Athapaththu leads with 40 off 15 balls",
    "Sri Lanka wins series 2-0 against Pakistan Women"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}