Sri Lanka clinched a historic victory over India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, winning by eight wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday. This match showcased remarkable performances from Sri Lankan batters Harshitha Samawickrama and Chamari Athapaththu, who played pivotal roles in securing the win.
Chasing a target of 166 runs, Sri Lanka had a rocky start as they lost opener Vishmi Gunaratne early in the second over due to a run-out with the team at a mere 7 runs. Harshitha Samawickrama then stepped in to join Chamari Athapaththu at the crease, and together they began to stabilise the innings.
Athapaththu displayed an impressive performance, reaching her fifty in the 10th over with a boundary off Renuka Thakur's delivery. The team crossed the 50-run mark by the end of the seventh over, with Athapaththu showing dominance against Indian spinner Radha Yadav.
However, Athapaththu's innings came to an end in the 12th over when she was bowled out by Deepti Sharma after scoring a robust 61 runs off 43 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes.
Despite the setback, Harshitha continued to anchor the innings. She played a stellar unbeaten knock of 69 runs from 51 balls, hitting six boundaries and two sixes. Kavisha Dilhari provided solid support with an unbeaten 30 runs off 16 balls, which featured a four and two sixes. This partnership ensured Sri Lanka reached the target comfortably in the 19th over, with eight wickets in hand.
For India, Deepti Sharma was the only successful bowler, taking one wicket for 30 runs in her four-over spell. The other bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters, resulting in a challenging chase.
Earlier in the match, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. The Indian team posted a total of 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Key contributions came from Smriti Mandhana, who scored 60 runs off 47 balls with ten fours, Richa Ghosh with a quick 30 runs off 14 balls, and Jemimah Rodrigues adding 29 runs from 16 balls.
Sri Lankan bowlers put up a disciplined performance, with Kavisha Dilhari being the standout, taking two wickets for 36 runs in her four overs. Udeshika Prabodhani, Sachini Nisansala, and Chamari Athapaththu each claimed one wicket, keeping the Indian batters in check.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka in women's cricket, highlighting their growing prowess in the sport. The combination of strong batting and disciplined bowling ensured they secured the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, a memorable milestone for the team and their supporters.
Brief Scores:
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Sri Lanka Women: 167/2 in 18.4 overs (Harshitha Samawickrama 69*, Chamari Athapaththu 61, Deepti Sharma 1/30)
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India Women: 165/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 60, Richa Ghosh 30, Kavisha Dilhari 2/36)
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