Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama lead Sri Lanka to historic Asia Cup win, India finishes runner-up

(Photo:X/Sri Lanka Cricket)

Dambulla: In a landmark moment for Sri Lankan cricket,  and Harshitha Samarawickrama delivered sensational performances to guide their team to a historic Asia Cup victory over India.

The comprehensive eight-wicket win in Dambulla on Sunday (July 28) secured Sri Lanka their maiden Asia Cup title, stunning the seven-time champions.

India, opting to bat first, posted a challenging 165/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana’s fluent half-century and Richa Ghosh’s fiery finish provided the backbone of India’s innings.

Despite this, Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained pressure, striking at key moments to keep the defending champions from building unstoppable momentum.

Chamari, leading from the front, anchored the chase with a commanding 61 off 43 balls. Her 87-run partnership with Harshitha was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s reply.

Harshitha, who had earlier dropped crucial catches, redeemed herself spectacularly with an unbeaten 69. Her composed and strategic acceleration, particularly after Chamari’s dismissal, ensured Sri Lanka reached the target with eight balls to spare.

The match began with India’s openers being kept in check by disciplined Sri Lankan bowling.

Mandhana, dropped on 10, made the most of her chance, hitting three boundaries off Udeshika Prabodhani to propel India to 44/0 in the Powerplay. India then faced setbacks with Shafali Verma’s contentious LBW dismissal and Uma Chetry’s quick departure.

Mandhana, steady and determined, rotated the strike effectively but fell for 60, bringing Jemimah Rodrigues to the crease. Rodrigues’ flurry of boundaries in a 14-run over helped India reach 115/3 by the 15th over. Richa Ghosh’s explosive 14-ball 30, including an 18-run penultimate over, boosted India to a competitive 165, a total that ultimately proved insufficient.

Sri Lanka’s chase mirrored India’s early approach, scoring 44/1 in the Powerplay with Chamari at the helm. Her brisk 33-ball half-century kept Sri Lanka on par with India’s scoring rate.

Deepti Sharma provided a breakthrough by dismissing Chamari, but Harshitha’s steady hand maintained Sri Lanka’s momentum. A crucial 14-run over off Pooja Vastrakar kept the chase alive. With 34 needed off 24 balls, Harshitha and Kavisha Dilhari ensured no further hiccups. Harshitha’s aggressive strokeplay in Radha Yadav’s over, including a six and a four, decisively tilted the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.

Dilhari’s six off Vastrakar sealed the historic win, sending the home crowd into raptures.

This victory marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s cricketing journey. The triumph, achieved in front of a passionate home crowd, showcases the rising talent and spirit of Sri Lankan women’s cricket. Chamari and Harshitha’s heroics have not only secured a prestigious title but also inspired a nation with their resilience and brilliance.

Brief scores: India 165/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 60, Richa Ghosh 30, Jemimah Rodrigues 29; Kavisha Dilhari 2-36) lost to Sri Lanka 167/2 in 18.4 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 69, Chamari Athapaththu 61, Kavisha Dilhari 30; Deepti Sharma 1-30) by 8 wickets.