• Sri Lanka crushed India by eight wickets to clinch their inaugural Women's Asia Cup 2024 championship.

  • Harshitha Samarawickrama was named Player of the Match for her match-winning knock.

Fans erupt as dominant Sri Lanka thrashes India to win their maiden Women’s Asia Cup 2024 title
Sri Lanka (Image Source: X)

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Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, defeating India by eight wickets in a thrilling final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday (July 28). Despite India’s strong performance in the group stage and semi-final against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka outplayed them in the high-stakes match. Key performances from Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama ensured Sri Lanka’s triumph in the tournament.

India sets a challenging target

After being asked to bat first, India posted a competitive total of 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana, continuing her stellar form from the semi-final, laid a solid foundation with a superb knock of 60 off 47 balls, featuring 10 boundaries. Mandhana’s 44-run opening partnership set the tone for India’s innings.

However, the middle order struggled as Uma Chetry and Harmanpreet Kaur failed to make significant contributions. Despite these setbacks, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh steadied the ship. Rodrigues scored a quickfire 29 off 16 balls, while Ghosh added 30 off 14 balls, ensuring India maintained their momentum. Kavisha Dilhari was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, with figures of 4-0-36-2, while Udeshika Prabodhani, Sachini Nisansala and Chamari Athapaththu each took a wicket.

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Sri Lanka’s chase: A blend of stability and aggression

Sri Lanka’s run chase got off to a shaky start with Vishmi Gunaratne being run out early. Nevertheless, Athapaththu and Samarawickrama anchored the innings, forming a crucial 87-run partnership for the second wicket. Athapaththu, who scored over 300 runs in the tournament, reached her half-century off just 32 balls, showcasing her aggressive intent.

Deepti Sharma provided a breakthrough for India, bowling Athapaththu around her legs for 61 off 43 balls. Despite this setback, Sri Lanka needed 72 runs off the final eight overs. Samarawickrama took charge, remaining unbeaten with a composed 69-run knock. Dilhari played a vital supporting role, contributing an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls. This ensured Sri Lanka reached the target with eight balls to spare, ending their four-match losing streak against India in the Women’s Asia Cup finals.

Historic Women’s Asia Cup 2024 title

This victory marked Sri Lanka’s resurgence in the Women’s Asia Cup, with their only other non-Indian winner being Bangladesh in 2018. The win not only showcased Sri Lanka’s cricketing prowess but also highlighted their ability to perform under pressure. The final was a testament to their skill and determination, as they outclassed a formidable Indian side to claim the prestigious title.

Also READ: ICC Women’s Rankings

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AMAR PAL SINGH BHALLA
Amar is a sports enthusiast and a talented writer who has found the perfect career that combines his two passions. As a valuable member of Cricket Times, Amar brings his passion for cricket and his talent for writing to the fore, providing readers with insightful and engaging content. Cricket lives rent-free in his mind. A person who views cricket as a metaphor for life. You can connect with Amar at amar.bhalla@crickettimes.com and also follow him on LinkedIn.