Sri Lanka clinch maiden Women’s Asia Cup title with comprehensive win over India

Sri Lanka women won their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title as they beat seven-time champions India by 8 wickets in the final on Sunday. 

Chasing the highest-ever target of 165 in the tournament for Sri Lanka, skipper Chamari Athapaththu smashed an impressive 61 runs with 2 sixes and 9 boundaries.

To offset the disappointment of Vishmi Gunaratne’s early run-out against India, Harshitha Samarawickrama bolstered Sri Lanka’s scoreboard by adding another half-century. Samarawickrama hit 69* in just 51 deliveries, while Kaveesha Dilhari scored 30*.

Having won the toss, India’s Captain Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first against Sri Lanka where they smashed 165 runs for the fall of 3 wickets.

Opener Shafali Verma, who scored 16, was the first strike for Sri Lanka Women. India’s Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a powerful 60, propelling India towards a formidable total. 

Jemimah Rodrigues contributed a solid 29 before being run out, while Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed by Sri Lanka’s Sachini Nisansala for just 11 runs.

Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari picked up 2 wickets while Sachini Nisansala and Chamari Athapaththu bagged one wicket each.