Sri Lanka Women created history on Sunday by clinching their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title, dethroning defending champions India in a thrilling final at Dambulla. Led by stellar performances from Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka chased down India’s 165/6 with eight wickets to spare, marking a significant milestone in their cricketing journey.
Sri Lanka lift their maiden 🏆 at the Women's Asia Cup beating India 🙌
— ICC (@ICC) July 28, 2024
➡: https://t.co/dqqHYKDNIl#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/dHueywO46U
Asia Cup Final Key Highlights
- Sri Lanka’s first Women’s Asia Cup victory
- Samarawickrama top-scored with an unbeaten 69
- Athapaththu contributed a crucial 61
- India posted 165/6, led by Smriti Mandhana’s 60
- Kavisha Dilhari’s all-round performance (2/36 and 30* off 16)
Asia Cup Final Match Summary
India Women: 165/6 (20 overs)
Sri Lanka Women: 167/2 (18.4 overs)
The match began with India electing to bat first. Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a well-crafted 60 off 47 balls, supported by quickfire knocks from Richa Ghosh (30 off 14) and Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16). Kavisha Dilhari was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking 2/36 in her four overs.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. After losing an early wicket, captain Chamari Athapaththu (61 off 43) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (69* off 51) forged a crucial 93-run partnership for the second wicket. Their partnership not only steadied the innings but also put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
The turning point came in the 18th over when Samarawickrama launched an assault on Radha Yadav, smashing two fours and a six to bring the required rate down significantly. Kavisha Dilhari (30* off 16) provided the perfect finishing touch, sealing the victory with a six in the penultimate over.
This triumph is a testament to Sri Lanka’s growing stature in women’s cricket. They have now won 14 out of 17 T20Is this year, showcasing their consistent performance and team depth beyond their talismanic captain Athapaththu.
For India, despite Mandhana’s efforts with the bat, their bowling and fielding let them down at crucial junctures. The loss will serve as a wake-up call as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in October.
As Sri Lanka celebrates this historic victory, the Asia Cup Final has undoubtedly set the stage for an exciting new chapter in women’s cricket in the region.
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