Sri Lanka Beat Pakistan to Reach Women’s Asia Cup Final
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final on Friday, ending Pakistan’s campaign and securing a place in the tournament final against India.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana delivered an impressive all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 47 and taking four wickets. However, her efforts were not enough as Sri Lanka successfully chased Pakistan’s target with seven balls remaining.
Sri Lanka finished on 134-6 while chasing a target of 131, with Harshita Samarawickrama playing an important role by scoring 36 runs from 31 deliveries.
Pakistan Posts 130 Runs
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to field first, meaning Pakistan batted first for the fourth consecutive match of the tournament.
Pakistan lost opener Muneeba Ali early, while Shawaal Zulfiqar provided some momentum with an aggressive cameo before being dismissed after scoring 22.
Ayesha Zafar and Sadaf Shamas also failed to build long partnerships, leaving Pakistan in a difficult position.
Fatima Sana then joined Gul Feroza and helped stabilize the innings. The pair added 40 runs before Feroza was dismissed.
Fatima remained at the crease until the end, scoring 47 not out from 36 balls. She also battled cramps in the Dubai heat during her innings.
Tuba Hassan contributed 12 runs from 10 deliveries as Pakistan reached 130-6 from their 20 overs.
Fatima Makes Early Impact With Ball
Pakistan made an excellent start when defending the total, with Fatima Sana taking two wickets from her first two deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu was dismissed at deep backward square, followed by Sanjana Kavindi, leaving the chasing side at 5-2.
Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani attempted to rebuild the innings, but Pakistan continued to take wickets.
Sadia Iqbal removed Perera, while Umm-e-Hani dismissed Dulani to reduce Sri Lanka to 33-4.
Samarawickrama and Dilhari Turn the Game Around
Sri Lanka recovered through a crucial partnership between Harshita Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari.
The pair added 67 runs, taking Sri Lanka close to the target and putting pressure back on Pakistan.
Fatima returned to the attack and dismissed both batters in her third over to complete her four-wicket haul.
However, Sri Lanka were already in a strong position by then and needed only a small number of runs to complete the chase.
Kaushini Nuthyangana and Nilakshika Silva finished the match for Sri Lanka. Nuthyangana hit a six before Silva struck the winning boundary.
Pakistan’s Fielding and Batting Come Under Pressure
Fatima was named Player of the Match for her outstanding individual contribution.
However, the Pakistan captain acknowledged after the game that missed opportunities in the field and shortcomings with the bat had made the difference.
Pakistan had managed to post 130 runs, but Sri Lanka’s successful chase showed the importance of building partnerships and maintaining pressure throughout the innings.
Sri Lanka Face India in Final
The victory marked Sri Lanka’s third consecutive Asia Cup semi-final win over Pakistan, following victories in the 2022 and 2024 editions.
Sri Lanka will now face India in the final on Sunday.
The final will be a repeat of the previous edition’s championship match, giving Sri Lanka another opportunity to compete for the Women’s Asia Cup title.
