A stunning performance by Sri Lanka saw them clinch the Women's Asia Cup 2024 title, defeating defending champions India by eight wickets in the final on July 28. While Harmanpreet Kaur-led India had dominated the tournament up until the final, facing little resistance in the group stage and semifinals, Sri Lanka proved to be a formidable opponent.
Sri Lanka Upset India to Clinch Asia Cup Title
Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama's half centuries were instrumental in their team's victory, delivering a match-winning performance that kept India on the back foot throughout the game. Sri Lanka chased down the 166-run target with 8 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka's Resurgent Chase
Sri Lanka's chase got off to a rocky start with the early dismissal of Vishmi Gunaratne. However, the partnership between Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama steadied the innings. Athapaththu, in particular, was in exceptional form, surpassing 300 runs in the tournament and reaching her half-century in just 32 balls. A crucial breakthrough for India came when Deepti Sharma dismissed Athapaththu for a well-made 61. With eight overs remaining, Sri Lanka still required 72 runs to secure victory. Despite this setback, Sri Lanka's dominance in the tournament was evident. India's victory marked their fifth consecutive Asia Cup title, with their only previous loss coming against Bangladesh in the 2018 final.
Mandhana Powers India to 165
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana's exceptional batting performance was instrumental in guiding India to a competitive total of 165/6 in the Women's Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Mandhana's well-crafted half-century (60 runs off 47 balls) laid the foundation for the Indian innings, supported by valuable contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues (29) and Richa Ghosh (30). Sri Lanka's bowling attack, comprising predominantly of spinners, posed a significant challenge to the Indian batters. The slow pitch further aided the bowlers, making it difficult for players like Shafali Verma to find her rhythm.
Mandhana, however, played a crucial role in India's innings. She received a lifeline early on when she was dropped on a weak chip shot. Capitalizing on this opportunity, she showcased her class with several elegant strokes, particularly against the only pacer in the Sri Lankan lineup, Udeshika Prabodhani.
India's Middle Order Struggles
Shafali Verma's early dismissal, trapped lbw while attempting a sweep, provided an early breakthrough for Sri Lanka. As the Powerplay ended, the challenging nature of the pitch became evident. Mandhana, forced to adapt, resorted to unconventional shots like scoops to accumulate runs. The slowness of the pitch also hampered the timing of other batters, including Harmanpreet Kaur and promoted opener Uma Chetry.
The Indian innings gained momentum with an aggressive partnership between Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, who added 41 runs for the fourth wicket. However, a crucial run out and Mandhana's dismissal derailed India's progress. Richa Ghosh injected some late impetus with a quickfire cameo, but India ultimately managed to post a total of 165 for six.
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