Sri Lanka's women delivered a decisive performance to defeat defending champions India by eight wickets, securing the Women's Asia Cup title in Dambulla on Sunday. The victory was powered by standout performances from captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari.
Sri Lanka's Dominance
From the outset, Sri Lanka displayed a clear strategy. After India chose to bat, Sri Lankan bowlers kept the pressure on, despite a strong start by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Dilhari made a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Verma, followed by key dismissals of Uma Chetry and Harmanpreet Kaur, which put India on the back foot. Mandhana's fluent batting kept India in the game, but the wickets kept falling from the other end. An aggressive cameo from Jemimah Rodrigues and a late surge by Richa Ghosh helped India reach a total of 165, which proved insufficient on a batting-friendly pitch.
Clinical Chase
Sri Lanka began their chase with determination. Though they lost Vishmi Gunaratne early, Athapaththu and Samarawickrama anchored the innings with a methodical approach. They waited for opportunities, capitalizing on weaker bowling spells, such as when Athapaththu scored 16 runs in an over from left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar. The duo's 87-run partnership set the foundation for a smooth chase. Despite a minor setback when Deepti Sharma bowled Athapaththu, Sri Lanka remained composed. A crucial dropped catch by India's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, added to India's woes, allowing Sri Lanka to comfortably reach the target.
Final Remarks
Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the team's mistakes, stating that despite playing well throughout the tournament, they faltered in the final. In contrast, Sri Lanka capitalised on India's errors and maintained its winning momentum in claiming the title.