Sri Lanka, June 24 -- Sri Lanka kept their Women's T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Ireland, powered by a sensational unbeaten century from captain Chamari Athapaththu.

After electing to bowl first, Sri Lanka made an immediate impact, reducing Ireland to 18-3. Captain Gaby Lewis fought back with a well-made 59, while Leah Paul added 20 as Ireland posted 130-5 from their allotted overs.

Chasing 131 for victory, Athapaththu produced a captain's innings, smashing an unbeaten 106 from just 61 balls. Her knock, which included 17 fours and two sixes, was the highest individual score of the tournament at the time.

Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani (20) shared a 98-run opening partnership to lay the fo...