(Source X)
In a historic moment for Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, they clinched their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title by defeating India in the final. Securing a commanding victory by 8 wickets, Sri Lanka ended their long-awaited Asia Cup triumph with a brilliant performance.
Chamari Athapaththu herself starred with a match-winning innings, contributing 61 runs off 43 balls. Supported by Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 69 off 51 balls, they guided Sri Lanka to successfully chase down India’s target of 166 in just 18.4 overs. This victory not only marked a significant achievement for Sri Lankan women’s cricket but also underscored their team’s resilience and determination throughout the tournament.
Facing an early setback, Sri Lanka found stability through a crucial partnership between Chamari Athapaththu and Harshita Samarawickrama, calming nerves among the home crowd. The duo swiftly accumulated 87 runs, seizing the initiative in the match. After Athapaththu’s departure, Samarawickrama assumed the role of anchor, guiding Sri Lanka to victory without losing her wicket till the end. Kavisha Dilhari’s unbeaten 30 off 16 balls further bolstered their chase, ensuring Sri Lanka crossed the finish line with balls to spare.
This triumph marked Sri Lanka’s inaugural Asia Cup title, a momentous achievement that evoked emotional scenes on the field. Athapaththu, visibly moved to tears, joined her teammates in exuberant celebrations as they savored this significant victory. It was a poignant turnaround from the disappointment of their loss to India in the 2022 final, as Sri Lanka exacted their revenge in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Chamari Athapaththu emerged as the standout performer of the tournament, finishing as its top-scorer with an impressive tally of 304 runs at an average of 121.50 and a striking strike rate of nearly 150. Her aggressive batting included 26 fours and 13 sixes, the highest among all batters in the competition. Additionally, contributing with the ball, she claimed three wickets, culminating in a well-deserved recognition as the Player of the Tournament.
On the other hand, for the Indian team, this marked their second defeat in an Asia Cup final, having previously lost to Bangladesh in the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup final. Despite being the proud holders of the Women’s Asia Cup title on seven occasions, the loss in 2024 also brought an end to Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten run as skipper in Asia Cup finals.
“I’m feeling happy, I’m happy about my team’s performance, especially the batting. Special thanks to Harshita and DIlhari for their performance. It’s not a one-man show, the coaching staff has been great and finally we have won the Asia Cup. Special thanks to the Sri Lanka crowd, they supported our girls and I’m really happy. This win is really good for our team, we have to inspire girls in the future, so it’s special for Sri Lanka. It’s my duty to lead from the front, that’s my duty for the country and my team. We talk positive things in the dressing room, the coach and support staff talk positive things in the dressing room, thanks to them,” said Chamari on her first major title win as captain of Sri Lanka.
Earlier in the day, a solid innings of 60 by Smriti Mandhana, complemented by valuable contributions from Richa Ghosh (30 off 14) and Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16) in the lower order, propelled India to a total of 165/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite their efforts, some disciplined bowling from the Sri Lankan bowlers prevented India from setting a more daunting target.
Chamari Athapaththu’s fifty at the top of the order proved decisive, effectively sealing the game for Sri Lanka. Their comfortable chase ultimately led them to clinch the Asia Cup title, marking a significant triumph for the Sri Lankan team.
