Sri Lanka women's cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu etched her name into the record books on Tuesday (June 23) by becoming the first player in the world to score a century in a successful run chase in an ICC Women's T20 World Cup match.

The 36-year-old left-handed opener led Sri Lanka's pursuit of 131 runs against Ireland in a Group B fixture of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Bristol's County Ground. She remained unbeaten on 106 off just 61 balls, smashing 17 fours and two sixes to steer her side to a commanding nine-wicket victory.

Before Athapaththu's historic knock, the highest score in a successful chase in Women's T20 World Cup history belonged to West Indies batter Shemaine Campbelle, who had made an unbeaten 90 against New Zealand in Southampton earlier in the tournament on June 13, 2026.

During her match-winning innings, Athapaththu shared a 98-run opening stand with Imesha Dulani, who contributed a steady 20 off 27 balls.

This century, her fourth in women's T20Is, was also Sri Lanka's first-ever hundred in a Women's T20 World Cup match. Only UAE's Esha Oza has more centuries than Athapaththu in the women's T20I format.

Overall, Athapaththu became just the eighth player to score a century in a Women's T20 World Cup fixture. The tournament's all-time highest individual score still belongs to former Australia captain Meg Lanning, who hammered 126 off 65 balls against Ireland in the 2014 edition held in Sylhet.
Overall, Athapaththu became just the eighth player to score a century in a Women's T20 World Cup fixture. The tournament's all-time highest individual score still belongs to former Australia captain Meg Lanning, who hammered 126 off 65 balls against Ireland in the 2014 edition held in Sylhet.