Sri Lanka Women vs Ireland Women, 20th Match, Group B, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - CommentarySLW vs IREW, 20th Match, Group B, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have both done what they needed to do today and are still hanging on to their slim hopes of qualification. Next up is Australia taking on Pakistan in Group A. Do join our coverage there. That's all from this one. It's a goodbye from Sagar Chawla on behalf of Mukesh and Raju Peethala.

Athapaththu | SL captain: [On scoring another century at Bristol and what makes the venue special] Yeah, I love Bristol. I score most of the runs here, especially in England. So, actually, I played my natural game, and I scored hundred, but the most important thing, we won. So we are waiting one win. So as a captain, as a leader, I always try to lead from the front. That’s what I want to do. No I don't (does she know how many centuries she has?) [On Sri Lanka’s bowling performance] Actually, young Mitali bowled really good, and the rest of the bowlers, the whole bowling unit, done an amazing job. And I’m really happy about bowling unit. Yes please Gaby (hoping for Ireland to beat WI). [On Sri Lanka’s qualification hopes and her experience of the tournament so far] I enjoyed in England this summer. We won two games, one more game left. So I want to play our best game against Scotland, and let’s see what we can do next. And we can’t control those things. So, yeah, unfortunately, we lost against West Indies because last three-four games before we come here, we beat a couple of times West Indies. Unfortunately, we lost that game. So we are in a little bit of trouble now, but we keep smiling and playing our best cricket. That’s the important thing. Same like Colombo. Bristol is same like Colombo at the moment.

Gaby Lewis | Ireland captain: [On recovering after Ireland were 3 for 2 and rebuilding the innings as captain] Yeah, it was definitely tough. I think you just got to rebuild. And I feel like me and Leah did that well. And look, I think the main thing was for us to just get a partnership, and that was what we focused on. We still want the girls to come in and play freely, and, you know, we’re just waiting for it to come off. But, you know, we didn’t want the girls to retract, because that’s not what you want as well. We need to still get a winning total on. So, yeah, I’m sure the girls will learn, and we’outside the leg-stump come back better. [On the learning curve for Cricket Ireland players as the standard continues to rise] Yeah, definitely. I think the level has gone up, but it also makes you hungrier as a cricketer, I think, after every World Cup, you go back and you go, we’re not far off, like, how close we were to beating New Zealand, and how well we’ve played in patches. It’s just about coming together, and I think that does drive you on to get better. And, yeah, that’s what we’outside the leg-stump look to do before Saturday. [On scoring a second consecutive fifty despite being on the losing side, and on Chamari’s innings] Yeah, amazing. I think, you know, she’s a world-class player. And definitely, one you need to get out, or else it’outside the leg-stump happen what happened today. But, yeah, look, brilliant knock, and yeah, she definitely did what the team needed. [On what Ireland can produce against West Indies in their final match] A win. You know, we beat them in the Tri-Series. The belief is still there in the squad. It’s just about, going back and rectifying our mistakes and where we went wrong today. But, look, same ground, same time, so hopefully we can have some good conversations on how to turn it around for Saturday.

Chamari Athapaththu | Player of the Match: Bristol is very familiar for me. When I was coming here everytime I was scoring runs. Unfortunately, the last game I got out early, so I'm a little bit worried about that game, but we won today. That's the most important thing as a player, as a captain. [On deciding to attack Ireland from the start and score quickly] Yeah, definitely, because we need to higher our net run rate. So, and I just play my natural game. Yeah, it’s my game, you know, I always attack. So, I try my best to do my best. That’s what I want to do. [On the performance of the bowlers] Actually, the bowlers bowled really good, especially young Mithali. She’s amazing. Actually, she’s done a really good job, and the other bowlers as well. So, I’m really happy about my bowling unit that done an amazing job today.

17:22 Local Time, 16:22 GMT, 21:52 IST: The only thing Sri Lanka can control is to win and win big. They've done that today, dispatching Ireland in style with their captain leading the way. The target was 131 and Athapaththu ended up scoring 106 of those to bring up her fourth T20I hundred. She hugs Nilakshika and proceeds with the handshakes. All smiles in the Lankan camp. Ireland just weren't at the races today. They lost three wickets inside the powerplay and were always playing catch-up from there. There was no catching up with Athapaththu.

Drinks! Athapaththu just five away from her hundred and there are 11 more needed for Sri Lanka.