Sri Lanka Clinches Maiden Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Title with Stunning Victory Over India

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The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final was a testament to the growing competitiveness and talent in women’s cricket. This time Sri Lanka clinched their maiden title with an eight-wicket victory over India and secured their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title
Sri Lanka Clinches Maiden Women's Asia Cup 2024

In a thrilling final match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against India, securing their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title. The final, held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, witnessed a spectacular display of cricket, culminating in Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket win over the seven-time champions.

Match Overview

Toss and Innings

India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision seemed to favor India initially as openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided a solid start. Mandhana, in particular, played a crucial role in anchoring the innings with a well-crafted 60 runs off 47 balls, featuring 10 boundaries.

Mid-Innings Slump

Despite the strong start, India’s middle order struggled to capitalize on the foundation laid by the openers. Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh added valuable runs, with Ghosh contributing a quickfire 30 off 14 balls, including four boundaries and a six. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Kavisha Dilhari, managed to stem the flow of runs and picked up crucial wickets at regular intervals. India concluded their innings at 165/6 in 20 overs.

Sri Lanka’s Chase

Strong Start and Middle Order Stability

Chasing a target of 166, Sri Lanka faced an early setback with the loss of Vishmi Gunaratne. However, skipper Chamari Athapaththu took charge, displaying her class and experience with a brilliant knock of 61 off 49 balls, adorned with nine fours and two sixes. Her innings provided the much-needed stability and momentum for Sri Lanka.

Harshita’s Redemption

Harshita Samarawickrama, who had earlier dropped two catches, redeemed herself magnificently. She played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 51 balls, including six boundaries and two sixes. Her partnership with Kavisha Dilhari, who scored a quickfire 30* off 16 balls, ensured Sri Lanka’s victory with eight balls to spare.

Conclusion and Celebrations

The Dambulla crowd erupted in joy as Kavisha Dilhari smashed a six to seal the victory for Sri Lanka. The win was a historic moment for Sri Lankan women’s cricket, marking their maiden Asia Cup title. The Sri Lankan cricket board announced a generous reward of $100,000 for the team and support staff, recognizing their outstanding performance and dedication.

Sri Lanka Clinches Maiden Women's Asia Cup 2024 Title with Stunning Victory Over India

Key Performances and Awards

  • Player of the Match: Harshita Samarawickrama for her match-winning innings of 69 not out.
  • Player of the Tournament: Chamari Athapaththu for scoring over 300 runs in the tournament and receiving three Player of the Match awards.

Post-Match Reactions

Sri Lanka Captain Chamari Athapaththu: “I’m extremely happy with our team’s performance, especially the batting. Special thanks to Harshita and Dilhari for their outstanding contributions. It’s not just a one-man show; our coaching staff has been fantastic. This win is special for Sri Lanka, and we aim to inspire future generations of girls to take up cricket.”

India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur: “We played good cricket throughout the tournament, but unfortunately, we made a lot of fumbles today, which cost us the match. It was a decent total, but Sri Lanka batted really well. We’ll take the lessons from this game and work hard for the upcoming World Cup.”

Statistical Highlights

  • India’s Batting:
    • Smriti Mandhana: 60 runs off 47 balls
    • Jemimah Rodrigues: 29 runs off 25 balls
    • Richa Ghosh: 30 runs off 14 balls
  • Sri Lanka’s Bowling:
    • Kavisha Dilhari: 2/36 in 4 overs
  • Sri Lanka’s Batting:
    • Chamari Athapaththu: 61 runs off 49 balls
    • Harshita Samarawickrama: 69* runs off 51 balls
    • Kavisha Dilhari: 30* runs off 16 balls
  • India’s Bowling:
    • Deepti Sharma: 1/30 in 4 overs

Looking Forward

The thrilling final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 has set the stage for an exciting future for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka. The victory will serve as a significant boost for the team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup. For India, despite the heartbreak, the tournament provided valuable insights and experience, which they will look to build upon in future competitions.

In a Nutshell!

The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final was a testament to the growing competitiveness and talent in women’s cricket. Sri Lanka’s maiden title win is a historic achievement that will inspire many young girls to take up the sport. Both teams showcased exceptional skill and sportsmanship, making the final a memorable event for cricket fans worldwide.

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