Team India’s journey to the Women’s Asia Cup title hit a major snag as they faced a determined Sri Lankan side in the final. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team, seen as the favorites, were caught off guard by a resurgent Sri Lanka, who clinched their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title. Despite a promising first innings, India’s sloppy fielding and subpar bowling led to a stunning defeat with 8 balls remaining.
This match serves as a crucial reality check for India, especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup just around the corner. India, who were expected to dominate, found themselves outplayed and outclassed.
Mandhana’s 60: A Lone Bright Spot for India
Batting first, India set a target of 165/6 in a tense final. Although it wasn’t an unbeatable score, it appeared defendable. The Indian innings had its ups and downs, with Smriti Mandhana standing out with a composed 60. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept the game in check by taking key wickets, preventing any significant partnerships from forming. Kavisha Dilhari was particularly effective, picking up crucial wickets to limit India’s progress.
India’s middle order faltered under pressure, with Uma Chetry and Harmanpreet Kaur adding only 20 runs combined. Nevertheless, a late blitz by Richa Ghosh, scoring 30 off 14 balls, pushed India to a competitive total. Despite a strong finish, the game was far from secure.
Athapaththu’s Heroics Lead Sri Lanka to Victory
India began their defense well, with an early run-out of Vishmi Gunaratne. However, things quickly turned in Sri Lanka’s favor as captain Chamari Athapaththu, a key figure in the team, displayed her exceptional batting prowess. Partnering with Harshitha Madavi, Athapaththu led a crucial 87-run partnership that put Sri Lanka in control. Deepti Sharma managed to dismiss Athapaththu, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lankan charge.
India’s woes were compounded by poor fielding, including crucial dropped catches, one notably by Harmanpreet Kaur. These mistakes allowed Harshitha Madavi to remain at the crease, ultimately guiding Sri Lanka to a famous victory with an unbeaten 69*.
This match has undoubtedly highlighted areas of improvement for India ahead of the T20 World Cup, serving as a reminder that they cannot afford to be complacent on the big stage.
