DAMBULLA: Sri Lanka clinched their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title by defeating India by eight wickets in final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.
In a commanding performance, Sri Lanka chased down India’s target of 166 runs with eight balls to spare, concluding their innings at 168 for 2 in 18.4 overs. The victory was spearheaded by an impressive innings from Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, who scored 61 runs off 43 balls. She was ably supported by Harshitha Samarawickrama, who remained unbeaten on 65 from 51 deliveries.
India, having opted to bat first, posted a total of 165 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana was the top scorer for India with 60 runs off 47 balls, while Richa Ghosh contributed a quick 30 runs off just 14 balls. Despite their strong start, India was unable to set a challenging target as Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept them in check.
Sri Lankan bowlers delivered key breakthroughs, with Kavisha Dilhari claiming two wickets, while Sachini Nisansala and Chamari Athapaththu took one wicket each.
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Both teams entered the final with unbeaten records in the tournament. Sri Lanka had edged past Pakistan in a nail-biting finish in the second semi-final, while India had defeated Bangladesh in the first semi-final to secure their place in the final.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka, who had never previously won the Women’s Asia Cup. The tournament has seen India dominate in the past, with the Indian team winning the T20 edition three times out of four and the ODI edition four times.
