Sri Lanka women shattered Pakistan's heart as they pulled off a 1-run win in the semi-final match to meet Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. in the title clash of the Women's Asia Cup. In a cracker of a contest, batting first Sri Lanka posted a total of 122/6 and then successfully defended the target in the last-ball cracker.
Inoka Ranawera was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers as her economical spell (17/2) played a crucial role. They will now face record champions India in the summit clash. Sri Lanka had a poor start to the tournament, as they had to face a heavy defeat at the hands of the Indian women.
Achini Kulasuriya bowled a stunning final over to help the outliers beat Pakistan in the second semi-final and march to the final. The 32-year-old pacer bowled full and straight throughout the over, leaving Pakistan with three needed off the last ball. But Nida Dar could not clear cover, where Kavisha Dilhari dropped the catch running backwards but recovered well to return a throw to the wicketkeeper, who ran Dar out to squeeze out a one-run victory.
This will be the first T20 Asia Cup final for Sri Lanka, having made it to the title-clash three times when the tournament was in ODI format. Pakistan will also feel hard done by, as they were cruising till captain Bismah Maroof was at the crease.
Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a disappointing total of 122 runs in 20 overs but Pakistan failed to pounce on the opportunity. Pakistan`s Nashra Sandhu picked up three wickets to help her team restrict Sri Lanka to a low total.
Pakistan openers stroked 3 boundaries in the first 3 overs and looked in great touch, looking set to score big. Pakistan was at 31/0 after three overs owing to Ali's aggression and wayward bowling from the Sri Lankan bowlers as they gave away plenty of extras. Sri Lanka was desperate for a wicket and it came in the form of a freak run-out as Muneeba Ali who looked set for a good inning was run out owing to fielding brilliance from the Sri Lankans and some harsh luck on the side of the Pakistani. She was dismissed for 18(10).
Pakistan's captain Bismah Maroof walked in to bat at three and came out all guns blazing as she struck a boundary on her first ball, making her intentions very clear. She hit another boundary at the beginning of the fifth over. Pakistan ended their powerplay at 46/1 after the team showed the intention to be aggressive from the beginning of the inning. Sidra Ameen's uncomfortable stay of 9(20) was ended by Hasini Perera in the seventh over to give Sri Lanka the second wicket.
The Pakistani captain then shared the crease with Omaima Sohail as the duo took Pakistan to the 10-over mark without losing any more wickets. The team scored 62/2 at the halfway mark. Sohail was then dismissed by Kavisha Dilhari to give Sri Lanka its third wicket. Last match`s star performer Nida Dar walked in at number four to share a 42-run stand with the Pakistani captain.
Maroof played a superb inning and looked set to take the team home but was dismissed with the victory just within reach. She saw hee timber being knocked over by Sugandika Kumari to give Sri Lanka an opening. They struck again in the 19th over to dismiss Ayesha Naseem to make things more nervy and exciting as the match headed into the final few overs. Pakistan needed nine runs off the final over to ensure an India-Pakistan Asia Cup final but faltered in the final over knocking them out of the tournament.
Pakistan was unable to find boundaries in the final overs as the team just couldn't find the gaps and lost wickets at crucial junctures. It required three runs of the final ball to win the match and two runs to force a super over but Nida Dar could only manage one run to hand Sri Lanka a dramatic win, setting up the title clash with India on Saturday, October 15.
