Sri Lanka Women will face Pakistan Women in the 1st Semi-Final of the <a href="https://cricket.international/what-happens-if-mohsin-naqvi-hands-medals-to-team-india-at-asian-games/" title="What happens if Mohsin Naqvi hands medals to Team India at Asian Games?”>Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on September 20. The two sides are familiar opponents, having met recently in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, where Sri Lanka secured a four-wicket victory. With another knockout contest now on the cards, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari will be among the key Sri Lankan players to watch.
Chamari Athapaththu
Chamari Athapaththu remains one of the biggest names in the Sri Lanka Women batting lineup and her ability to provide a fast start makes her an important player in the Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women semi-final. The left-handed opener comes into the contest after an excellent outing against Malaysia in the Asian Games quarter-final, where she smashed 63 off 37 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 170.27. She also contributed with the ball, finishing with 2/3 in two overs as Sri Lanka won by 86 runs.
Athapaththu’s T20I career includes 171 matches, 4,199 runs, the highest score of 119, an average of 26.58 and a strike rate of 114.08, along with four centuries and 15 fifties. She has also taken 91 wickets, with her best bowling figures of 7/5. Her experience and ability to influence both innings make her a major threat for Pakistan in the PAK-W vs SL-W Asian Games 2026 semi-final.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Harshitha Samarawickrama provides stability and composure to the Sri Lankan top order. While Athapaththu can attack from the beginning, Harshitha has shown the ability to absorb pressure before increasing the scoring rate. Her recent record against Pakistan makes her another important Sri Lanka Women player to watch. In Sri Lanka’s most recent meeting with Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, Harshitha scored 36 off 31 balls, helping Sri Lanka recover from 33/4 as they eventually chased down Pakistan’s 130/5 in 18.4 overs.
Harshitha’s T20I numbers currently stand at 97 matches and 1,960 runs, with the highest score of 86 not out, an average of 27.22 and a strike rate of 101.66, including nine half-centuries. She also enters the Asian Games semi-final after scoring 25 off 18 balls against Malaysia in Sri Lanka’s quarter-final victory, giving her another useful contribution at the top of the order.
Kavisha Dilhari
Kavisha Dilhari could be particularly important for Sri Lanka because of her ability to contribute in both departments. The all-rounder has developed into a useful middle-order option and can also provide crucial overs with her bowling. Her latest performance in the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition was one of her most impressive recent outings. Against Malaysia, Dilhari remained unbeaten on 44 off 27 balls, hitting six fours at a strike rate of 162.96. She then returned with the ball and claimed 2/4 in three overs, helping Sri Lanka restrict Malaysia to 74/7 after posting 160/4.
Dilhari also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s recent victory over Pakistan. In the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, she scored 33 off 33 balls, forming a match-changing 50-run partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama as Sri Lanka recovered from 33/4. She was eventually dismissed at 109, but Sri Lanka completed the chase with eight balls remaining. Her T20I career numbers include 90 matches, 755 runs at an average of 10.19 and a strike rate of 86.63, with a highest score of 51. With the ball, she has taken 78 wickets, including best figures of 4/13.
With the Asian Games 2026 semi-final taking place in Nisshin, the performances of these three players could once again be central to Sri Lanka’s campaign as they look to progress to the final.
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Source: femalecricket.com
