Sri Lanka women’s cricket team made history on Sunday by defeating India to win their first Women’s T20 Asia Cup title. In an impressive display at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka chased down India’s total of 165 for 6, achieving 167 for 2 with eight wickets to spare.
The victory was spearheaded by the exceptional performances of openers Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, both scoring half-centuries. Athapaththu, the captain, scored a powerful 61, while Samarawickrama remained unbeaten with a match-winning 69. Kavisha Dilhari’s all-round performance also shone through, contributing an unbeaten 30 runs and taking 2 wickets for 36 runs.
India posted a competitive total, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s 60 and quick contributions from Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues. Despite these efforts, India’s score proved insufficient against a determined Sri Lankan side.
Athapaththu’s aggressive play against India’s left-arm spinners was a key moment in the match. She attacked the inexperienced Tanuja Kanwar, scoring 16 runs in the fifth over and setting the tone for Sri Lanka’s chase. Her dominance continued against Radha Yadav, with 29 of her 61 runs coming against left-arm spinners at a strike rate of 170.58.
Mandhana showcased her experience, hitting her 26th T20I fifty. She overcame early challenges and capitalized on loose deliveries to keep India in the game. However, her luck ran out when Athapaththu took a superb running catch off Dilhari’s bowling, ending Mandhana’s innings.
Dilhari’s battle with Richa Ghosh was another highlight. Although Dilhari had an economical spell initially, Ghosh managed to score 18 runs off Dilhari’s final over, pushing India’s total past 150. Despite this, Dilhari’s overall performance was crucial in restricting India.
This victory not only marks a historic milestone for Sri Lanka but also underscores the team’s growing strength and depth. With 14 wins out of 17 T20Is this year, Sri Lanka heads into the T20 World Cup in October with immense confidence and pride. The win highlights that Sri Lanka is not solely dependent on their captain, showcasing the team’s collective ability to deliver under pressure.