Chamari Athapaththu’s calm half-century helped Sri Lanka clinch a thrilling win over Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup semifinal. Sri Lanka chased 141, winning with just one ball left, and now face India in the final.

Sri Lanka’s steady play in the middle overs was crucial. While Pakistan faltered after a strong start, Sri Lanka recovered from early jitters, scoring just enough to cross the finish line despite losing wickets late in the game.

Pakistan innings

Powerplay: Openers set the stage

Pakistan’s openers started slow but picked up pace. Gull Feroza hit three boundaries in the third over, and Muneeba Ali followed with consecutive fours off Athapaththu. They reached 45 runs in the powerplay.

Middle overs: Sri Lanka strikes back

Sri Lanka fought back around the halfway mark. Udeshika Prabodhani broke the opening stand, dismissing both set openers in one over. Kavisha Dilhari then took two more wickets in another over.

Final overs: A late surge

Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz rallied in the last overs. Despite a cautious 16th over, they realized the need for quick runs. Fatima hit three boundaries, and Aliya cleared the ropes once, helping Pakistan post a competitive 140.

Sri Lanka chase

Powerplay: Early setback

Sri Lanka’s start was shaky. Vishmi Gunaratne got out for a duck in the first over, and Harshitha Madavi, despite hitting two fours, was dismissed for 12. Athapaththu had to anchor the innings.

Middle overs: Chamari takes control

Athapaththu found her rhythm and hit boundaries regularly, pushing the score to 69 at the halfway mark. Though Sadia Iqbal took two quick wickets, Athapaththu’s presence kept Sri Lanka in the hunt. She reached her fifty and brought the target down to 35 off 30 balls.

Final overs: A nail-biting finish

Athapaththu’s slog sweep over midwicket brought the target down to 28 from 26 balls. She hit another boundary, but Pakistan fought back with her wicket and a run-out in the next over. Under pressure, Sugandika Kumari hit two crucial boundaries in the penultimate over, leaving 3 runs needed off 6 balls. Despite Nida Dar’s efforts, Sri Lanka sealed the win in the last over.

Player of the Match (Chamari Athapaththu)

“The game was very tight. Unfortunately I got out early, I had to finish the game. The girls finished the game in style. Hope my girls will continue this performance in the final as well. Good track for batting, positive intent is important. We lost a couple of wickets early, but stuck to our plan. I took my time because we lost wickets early. I am a senior batter, so I changed my batting style. I tried to finish the game but got out. Finals – very important game, but we don’t want to take pressure. It is just one game, we want to enjoy the moment.” She then goes on to thank the crowd.

Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav led India’s bowling attack, helping the team reach the final of the Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh by 10 wickets. Renuka 3-10 and Radha 3-14 shines with the ball, limiting Bangladesh to just 80/8. India chased down the target in only 11 overs, with Mandhana scoring a quick fifty.

India’s bowlers never let Bangladesh settle after they chose to bat. Wickets fell regularly in the powerplay, middle overs, and at the end, preventing Bangladesh from building any partnerships. With boundaries hard to come by, Bangladesh’s bowlers had no chance as Mandhana and Shafali powered India into their ninth Women’s Asia Cup final.

Bangladesh innings

Powerplay: Renuka strikes early

Renuka bowled three overs in the powerplay, taking a wicket in each. Dilara Akter hit a six but was out trying to repeat the shot. Ishma Tanjim edged Renuka to short third man after hitting two fours off Pooja Vastrakar. Murshida Khatun was dropped but then caught in the deep trying to pull Renuka. Regular wickets meant Bangladesh couldn’t capitalize in the powerplay.

Middle overs: Bangladesh struggles

Renuka bowled a maiden in the seventh over to finish her spell. Indian bowlers kept it tight, not allowing Bangladesh to score freely. Radha bowled Rumana Ahmed in the 10th over, leaving Bangladesh at 32/4. Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni fell quickly, leaving Bangladesh at 44/6.

Death overs: Radha’s tight bowling

Bangladesh crossed 50 in the 16th over. Shorna Akter edged Radha for a four, their first boundary in over 11 overs. Deepti bowled an economical 18th over. Shorna and Sultana managed a four each off Vastrakar. Radha bowled an excellent final over, dismissing Sultana and Nahida Akter, keeping Bangladesh to a low total.

India innings

Powerplay: Strong start

India started quickly, scoring over half the target in the powerplay. Mandhana and Shafali hit boundaries off Marufa Akter and Nahida. Mandhana hit a six off Jahanara Alam and two fours off Nahida. Despite Jahanara’s tight sixth over, India had a strong powerplay.

Middle overs: Mandhana finishes early

Mandhana edged Jahanara to backward point but was relieved as the bowler overstepped. Mandhana hit a four off Rabeya Khan. In the 11th over, Mandhana hit three successive fours off Nahida, reaching her fifty and finishing the chase.

Player of the Match(Renuka Singh):

“I am very happy. It was a big match for us and to do well is a good feeling. The idea is to work on the basics. I executed what we prepared yesterday. Got a lot help from the wind blowing across. I like bowling with the new ball, and got to bowl my spell early. I was happy with all my wickets, because you get rewarded for your work.”

India started their Asia Cup campaign with a bang, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in Dambulla on Friday. Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Match, led a disciplined bowling effort, taking 3-20 to restrict Pakistan to just 108 runs. Openers Smriti Mandhana (45 off 31) and Shafali Verma (40 off 29) then chased down the target with ease, launching India’s title defense in style.

Powerplay: India’s strong start

Nida Dar chose to bat first on a dry, batting friendly pitch, but Pakistan’s top order struggled against Pooja Vastrakar’s early strikes. In contrast, India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma went after the Pakistani bowlers, scoring at 9.5 runs per over in the first six overs. Pakistan managed only one double-digit over in their PowerPlay, with India’s pacers applying constant pressure in windy conditions.

Pakistan’s struggle: Vastrakar removes openers early

Pooja Vastrakar was in top form, removing both Pakistan openers in her PowerPlay overs. She used the short ball effectively, and despite a boundary off her first ball, she quickly took control. Pakistan’s top order couldn’t recover, managing only a few boundaries in the first six overs.

Spinners and Renuka Thakur keep Pakistan in check

India’s spinners took over, with Patil striking in her first over. Aliya Riaz fell to a leading edge, and with Harmanpreet Kaur also bowling spin, Pakistan crawled to 53/3 at the halfway mark. Vastrakar’s return added pressure, leading to the dismissal of Pakistan’s captain, Dar. Renuka Thakur then took two quick wickets in her final over, leaving Pakistan struggling.

Late counterattack curbed by off-spinners

Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana provided some resistance, adding 31 runs for the ninth wicket. Tuba was aggressive, hitting boundaries off Deepti, Vastrakar, and Shreyanka, but Deepti dismissed her soon after. A run-out and a quick wicket by Patil ended Pakistan’s innings at 108 with four balls left.

India’s chase

Verma’s blazing start

Pakistan started with spin, but Shafali Verma quickly punished Sadia Iqbal. Verma and Mandhana kept the score ticking with boundaries, racing to 57 runs in the PowerPlay. Verma’s aggressive batting set the tone, hitting Fatima Sana for consecutive boundaries.

Mandhana seals the deal

Nashra Sandhu provided brief respite with a tight over, but Mandhana’s onslaught on Tuba ended Pakistan’s hopes. Mandhana hit five boundaries in one over, reaching 45 before being dismissed. Verma also fell, but D Hemalatha maintained the momentum with quick boundaries. Despite Sandhu’s late strike, India easily completed the chase in the 15th over.

POTM

Deepti Sharma received the Player of the Match award for her outstanding performance with the ball, taking 3-20.

Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2024 – Group A:

In a move to promote women’s cricket and ensure widespread support, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced free entry for spectators for the upcoming Women’s T20 Asia Cup starting from July 19.

Details of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup

The ninth edition of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup is set to take place in Sri Lanka, with all matches hosted at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The tournament, running from July 19 to July 28, will feature eight teams: Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Nepal, Malaysia, and Thailand. This highly anticipated event will serve as a key competition ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup later this year.

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Sri Lanka Cricket’s initiative

By offering free entry to all matches, SLC aims to fill the stands and create an electrifying atmosphere for the players. According to SLC Vice President Ravin Wickramaratne, the board is committed to hosting a successful tournament that will elevate women’s cricket on the global stage.

“Sri Lanka Cricket, with the support of the Asian Cricket Council, is planning to conduct a highly successful tournament, as a successful outcome of this tournament will help advance women’s cricket on the world stage,’ said Ravin Wickramaratne in a press release.

Group Divisions and Fixtures

The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Thailand. The tournament will kick off with the UAE facing Nepal, followed by a high-stakes match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

India’s campaign kickoff

India, the defending champions, will begin their campaign against Pakistan. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter, given the fierce rivalry between the two teams. India’s dominance in the tournament, having won seven out of the eight editions, adds to the excitement and pressure for both teams.

Tournament Format

The Women’s T20 Asia Cup will feature a total of 15 matches, culminating in the final on July 28. The tournament’s T20 format is not only fast-paced and exciting but also serves as a preparation ground for the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. Teams will be looking to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum ahead of the global event.