In a thrilling showdown, India emerged victorious over Bangladesh in the first semi-final, setting the stage for an epic final against Sri Lanka, who triumphed over Pakistan in the second semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup. The final promises to be a gripping encounter as both teams have shown remarkable resilience and skill to reach this stage.
In a nail-biting match at Dambulla on July 26, Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan by three wickets with just one ball remaining. Pakistan, batting first, posted a competitive total of 140 for 4 in their 20 overs. Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali provided a steady start with 25 and 37 runs respectively, while Nida Dar contributed a quickfire 23 off 17 balls. Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana remained unbeaten, adding crucial runs towards the end.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Udeshika Prabodhani and Kavisha Dilhari, each taking two wickets, kept the scoring in check. Prabodhani was particularly economical, conceding just 23 runs in her four overs. However, it was Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round performance that stood out. She was the Player of the Match for her brilliant 63 off 48 balls, which included nine fours and one six, anchoring the chase for Sri Lanka.
Chasing 141, Sri Lanka faced early setbacks with the loss of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama. But Athapaththu’s innings stabilized the chase. Despite a middle-order collapse, where they lost four wickets for just 60 runs, Anushka Sanjeewani’s composed 24 not out guided Sri Lanka to victory. Sadia Iqbal was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming four wickets for just 16 runs.
Final Showdown:
The Asia Cup 2024 final between India and Sri Lanka promises to be an exciting contest on July 28th at Dambulla. India, with their strong batting lineup and experienced bowlers, will look to capitalize on their form and continue their winning streak and so will Sri Lanka.
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