Sri Lanka Overcome Early Collapse to Reach Final
Sri Lanka recovered from a perilous 33/4 to defeat Pakistan by four wickets in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Chasing 131, the defending champions lost their first four wickets inside seven overs before Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari added 67 runs for the fifth wicket. Samarawickrama made 36 from 31 balls and Dilhari 33 from 33, steadying the innings with sharp running between the wickets.[S1][S2][S4]
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana briefly revived her side's hopes by dismissing both set batters in the 17th over, leaving Sri Lanka at 109/6 with 22 runs still needed from the final three overs. Nilakshika Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana held their nerve, guiding Sri Lanka to 131/6 in 18.4 overs. Silva finished unbeaten on 18 from 10 balls, while Nuthyangana was 10 not out from four deliveries.[S1][S2][S4]
Fatima Sana's All-Round Effort Not Enough for Pakistan
Asked to bat first, Pakistan also endured a difficult start, slipping to 52/4 inside 10 overs. Captain Fatima Sana led the recovery with an unbeaten 47 from 36 balls, including four fours and two sixes, lifting her side to 130/5. Shawaal Zulfiqar provided early momentum with 24 from 16 balls, while Gull Feroza made 21. Sri Lanka's bowlers kept the pressure on, with Chamari Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda taking two wickets each and Sugandika Kumari claiming one.[S1][S3]
Sana was named Player of the Match for her 4/38 and unbeaten 47, but her efforts could not prevent Pakistan's exit after an inconsistent tournament. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu praised the match-winning partnership, saying Harshitha and Kavisha absorbed the pressure, took singles and played really well. Sana acknowledged that most things went well for her team but the Sri Lankan middle order took the game away, crediting the pair for their ability to rotate the strike.[S1][S3]
Final Against India Awaits on Sunday
Sri Lanka will face India in the final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a repeat of the 2024 summit clash. India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final and have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all three group matches. Sri Lanka are chasing their second consecutive title, while India aim for a record-extending eighth Asia Cup crown.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Athapaththu expressed confidence in her team's depth, noting that Sri Lanka have good finishers like Harshitha, Nilakshika and Kavisha, and that most players are performing well, including the bowling unit. She said that if they execute their plans in the final, they can beat any team. Sri Lanka defeated India by eight wickets in the 2024 final to claim their maiden Asia Cup title.[S1][S2][S4]
