India 183 for 5 (Shafali 68, Mandhana 59, Kamalini 1-33) beat Sri Lanka 111 all out (Athapaththu 36, Charani 4-20, Deepti 3-19) by 72 runs
A spectacular opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, coupled with a disciplined bowling performance, propelled India to their eighth Asia Cup title—the fourth in the T20 format—as they defeated former champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai.
Verma and Mandhana forged a formidable 129-run opening stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, powering India to a competitive total of 183 for 5. Although India dropped five catches, their spin attack—anchored by Deepti Sharma and N Shree Charani—ensured Sri Lanka’s chase never gained momentum. Despite Chamari Athapaththu’s top-score of 36, the hosts were bowled out for 111. This victory extends India’s dominance in Asia Cup final clashes to a 6-1 lead over Sri Lanka.
The Verma-Mandhana Masterclass
Shafali set the tone after captain Harmanpreet Kaur chose to bat upon winning the toss. When Sri Lanka introduced spin early, both openers wasted no time in attacking, picking up two boundaries. Verma then combined power with precision in the third over, using the pace on a short ball from outside off to guide it past short third, before clipping a length delivery through midwicket for back-to-back fours.
Chamari Athapaththu came into the attack in the fifth over, but provided little relief. Verma got underneath a tossed-up delivery and launched it straight back over the bowler’s head, before sending another delivery over long-on. India raced to 57 without loss by the end of the powerplay.
The boundary-hitting continued seamlessly after the powerplay, with Verma finding the ropes regularly on her way to a blistering 24-ball fifty—the fastest half-century in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. Mandhana, who had started at a run-a-ball, joined the onslaught, lofting a flighted delivery from Chamudi Praboda over long-on before bringing up her own fifty off 36 balls with a stylish cut through the offside. India reached 98 without loss at the end of ten overs.
Chamari Athapaththu finished this Asia Cup with 12 wickets•ACC
Sri Lanka Hit Back… Somewhat
With India cruising towards a 200-plus total, Sri Lanka finally found a breakthrough in the 13th over when Praboda dismissed a mistimed Shafali shot caught by cover. India faced another setback in the following over when Mandhana was run out for the third time in the tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur, batting at No. 3, hit Athapaththu’s delivery straight to point and set off for a single, but hesitated midway before continuing, leaving Mandhana stranded. The mix-up ended Mandhana’s innings on 59, with Sri Lanka dismissing both well-set openers within six deliveries.
Sri Lanka missed an early chance to dismiss Richa Ghosh when Kavisha Dilhari dropped a difficult running catch. Ghosh had mistimed a slog sweep towards deep backward square leg, with Dilhari racing forward and diving, only for the ball to slip through her grasp upon impact. Ghosh failed to capitalize on the reprieve, scoring 15 off 13 before being caught at cover.
Sri Lanka applied pressure at the death, restricting India and dismissing Harmanpreet and Deepti in consecutive deliveries during the 19th over. This brought G Kamalini to the crease—playing her first match of the tournament and only her second T20I. She finished the innings in style, hitting a four and a six off the final two deliveries to guide India to 183 for 5.
A Frustrating Start for Sri Lanka
Chasing a daunting target of 184, Sri Lanka’s start was initially positive as Imesha Dulani shuffled across to a full delivery from Kranti Gaud and paddled it past short fine leg for four. However, a similar attempt in the fourth ball of the over ended her innings, as Dulani attempted a scoop, missed the ball completely, and watched it crash into the top of leg stump.
Earlier, Sri Lanka suffered an early physical setback when Vishmi Gunaratne appeared to roll her ankle while returning a ball and had to be carried off on a stretcher. She showed remarkable resilience by returning to bat at No. 3, attempting to rebuild with Athapaththu. However, fast bowlers Gaud and Nandani Sharma kept the duo under pressure, with Athapaththu enduring a testing over from Gaud, finally getting off the mark only on the eighth delivery she faced.
Athapaththu then showcased her big-hitting ability, taking on Shafali for a six and a four. However, despite the boundaries, she was scoring at just a run-a-ball at the end of the powerplay. Any realistic hopes of a successful chase were extinguished when she was dismissed in the tenth over.
Anticipating an aggressive intent from Athapaththu, Deepti Sharma shortened her length, drawing the batter forward. The ball spun away sharply, beating the attempted shot, and Richa Ghosh completed a straightforward stumping to dismiss the Sri Lanka captain for 36. Deepti struck again in the same over, bowling Gunaratne, leaving Sri Lanka needing 121 runs from the final ten overs.
N Shree Charani finished with figures of 4 for 20•ACC
India’s Spinners Take Control
As has been the theme throughout the tournament, India’s spinners demonstrated their exceptional skill, completely denying Sri Lanka any realistic chance of mounting a chase. Wickets fell consistently, with Charani dismissing Harshitha Samarawickrama—the hero of the 2024 Asia Cup—caught sharply at the return for 9.
Charani then claimed a double wicket in her over. Kavisha Dilhari fell first, slicing a thick outside edge towards short third, before Nilakshika Silva, playing through discomfort with a broken finger, top-edged a shot towards deep square leg.
India’s fielding was somewhat sloppy, dropping five catches overall, but it was far too late for Sri Lanka to capitalize on those opportunities. Deepti finished with three wickets and Charani with four, securing their spots as the tournament’s top two wicket-takers as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 111 on the final ball of the innings.
