Sri Lanka's women's cricket team kicked off their 2026 Asia Cup campaign with a commanding nine-wicket win against the UAE in Dubai, with captain Chamari Athapaththu delivering a strong individual performance.

Sri Lanka Women made a successful start to their title defence at the 2026 Women's Asia Cup, defeating the UAE by nine wickets in a one-sided contest held in Dubai. After choosing to bowl first, the Sri Lankan attack proved highly effective, restricting their opponents to just 79 runs. Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya led the bowling efforts, each taking three wickets to dismantle the UAE batting lineup.

Chasing the modest total, Sri Lanka secured victory with minimal fuss, reaching 80 for one in 7.5 overs. Captain Chamari Athapaththu dominated the proceedings with an aggressive unbeaten 48 off 25 balls, featuring seven boundaries and two sixes. Her performance underscored Sri Lanka's strong position in the tournament and demonstrated the team's batting depth and firepower.

Athapaththu's innings also marked a significant personal milestone, as she became the first batter to accumulate 500 runs across the history of the Women's Asia Cup, a testament to her consistent performances in the tournament over multiple campaigns. The commanding victory sets a positive tone for Sri Lanka as they continue their campaign to retain the continental title.