India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13, and lifted their eighth Asia Cup title and fourth in the T20 format. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana built the platform with a record opening stand, and the spin pair of N Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma finished the job with the ball.
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana Set Up Record Opening Stand
India chose to bat first after winning the toss, and Shafali Verma set the tone from the opening overs. She attacked the spinners early, then added pace-driven boundaries once Sri Lanka introduced Chamari Athapaththu into the attack.
Shafali raced to fifty off just 24 balls, the fastest half-century in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history, and India reached 57 without loss inside the powerplay. Mandhana started at close to a run a ball, but she picked up the tempo soon after. She lofted Chamudi Praboda over long-on and reached her own fifty off 36 deliveries. The pair put on 129 for the first wicket, the highest partnership recorded for any wicket in the tournament’s history, before Sri Lanka broke through in the 13th over.
Shafali mistimed a shot to cover off Praboda and fell, and Mandhana followed soon after. Mandhana was run out on 59 in a mix-up with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Both openers departed within six balls of each other, which handed Sri Lanka a brief opening.
Kamalini Cameo Lifts India to 183 for 5
Richa Ghosh survived a dropped catch from Kavisha Dilhari before falling for 15, and Sri Lanka pulled back further by removing Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma in successive balls during the 19th over.
Gunalan Kamalini, playing just her second T20I and her first match of this Asia Cup, walked in under pressure and struck a four and a six off the last two deliveries. Her unbeaten 15 off five balls pushed India to 183 for 5, a total that proved well beyond Sri Lanka’s reach on the night.
Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma Spin Out Sri Lanka for 111
Sri Lanka’s chase unraveled early when Imesha Dulani missed a scoop and was bowled for 4. Vishmi Gunaratne, who had earlier rolled her ankle in the field and was carried off on a stretcher, returned to bat and added 61 with Athapaththu for the second wicket.
Athapaththu struck a six and a four off Shafali but could not sustain the required rate, and Deepti Sharma ended her innings for 36 with a stumping before removing Gunaratne in the same over. Sri Lanka needed 121 off the last ten overs and never got close. Charani accounted for Harshitha Samarawickrama, Dilhari, and Nilakshika Silva, finishing with figures of 4 for 20, while Deepti took 3 for 19.
India dropped five catches through the innings but still bowled Sri Lanka out for 111 off the final ball, sealed the result, and stretched their head-to-head record in Asia Cup finals to 6-1. Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for her contributions throughout the tournament.
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