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We have our 2024 Women's Asia Cup finalists. As was the case in the Men's edition last year, Sri Lanka will face a rampant Indian side in the final on home turf. Given current form and past records, India are firm favourites going into the game, but write this Sri Lankan side off at your own peril. This lot are capable of conjuring miracles - particularly with their skipper leading the scheme of things! Join us right here on Sportskeeda on Sunday for our coverage of the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final, and keep an eye on our tabs for a lot more! This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Pragadeesh Shanmugam. Good night!
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka captain) has been adjudged Player Of The Match for her match-winning knock of 63 off 48! Here's what she has to say: The game is very tight. We stuck with our plans. I got out a bit early, but our girls finished the game in our style. End of the day, we have to play our best cricket, and I hope our girls continue the good performance in the final. Was a good track, we have to be positive, it is important for this kind of wicket. We batted well, lost a couple of wickets but stuck with our plans. We executed them at the right time. I took my time because we lost a couple of wickets - as the captain and a senior player, I have to lead from the front. I changed by batting style, rotated the strike, hit the loose ball for a boundary. I tried to finish the game, but unfortunately I got out. My girls finished very nicely. (On the final) Very important game for us, but we do not want much pressure on our shoulders. Just another game, we have to enjoy the game and the moment. (Thanks the fans in Sinhalese).
Nida Dar (Pakistan Captain) - Totally heartbroken. If I see there is a lot of positives as our young players put in a good performance in front of the Sri Lankan crowd. we were 10-15 short and if you say the new technology had been there, the result could've changed. We could've defended the total but we dragged this to the last ball. The way the batters and bowlers played, credit should goes to them
All eyes were on Chamari Athapaththu as Sri Lanka set out to chase 141 for a place in the final. The Sri Lankan skipper, as she has done so, so often throughout her elusive playing career, stepped up to the task, gathered the game by the scruff of the neck, and got her side to a commanding position, but she couldn't get her team over the line. The hosts were in need of assistance from the lower-order, and while there were a few hiccups, Anushka Sanjeewani held her nerve and got the job done.
Pakistan struck three balls into the chase as Sadia Iqbal trapped Vishmi Gunaraten in front with a straight one. Nida Dar let a few looseners through in the next over, allowing Harshitha Madavi find the boundary twice. Madavi's stay wasn't all that long - Omaima Sohail trapped her in front as she tried to sweep one from in front of the stumps. Pakistan were on the front foot at the stage.
Chamari Athapaththu proceeded to take control of the chase - she and Kavisha Dilhari played themselves in, finding the odd boundary on occasions. Sri Lanka, though, were being strangulated by the Pakistan spinners - they needed a big over to break free, and eventually got one towards the back-end of the first half of the chase.
15 runs came off the 9th - Dilhari ran down the wicket to Sandhu and missed it, but Muneeba misread the turn, bounce, let it through, and both batters collected a boundary each. 10 more came off the next over, and as soon as it seemed like the tide was turning, Sadia Iqbal was brought back, and thanks to a stunning catch from Syeda Aroob Shah, she broke the partnership, and followed that up with the wicket of Nilakshi de Silva two balls later.
Athapaththu desperately needed a partner to play second fiddle, and Anushka Sanjeewani stepped up to the task. Having rotated strike with Athapaththu, she broke the shackles with a six off Tuba Hassan, sparking a shift in momentum. Athapaththu cut loose as well, brought up a half-century of her own, and proceeded to bring the required rate down to almost a run-a-ball.
Sadia Iqbal found a way to go past Athapaththu and find the stumps, and the equation suddenly seemed a bit different. Panic set in among the hosts - Hasini Perera ran herself out, but a couple of gutsy shots from Sugandika Kumari brought the target down to single figures. With three needed off the last over, Nida Dar brought herself on, didn't concede a single run off the first three deliveries, cleaning up Sugandika in the process, but Sri Lanka managed to sneak through eventually. Presentations coming up in a bit...
Anushka Sanjeewani holds her nerve! The Sri Lankan team are chuffed to bits - out they rush to embrace their wicket-keeper! The hosts make their way into the final - they'll face India in front of their own fans!
19.5 Nida Dar to Anushka Sanjeewani, SRI LANKA ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL! Another memorable match between these two teams. The players run towards the ground to congratulate Anushka Sanjeewani. The emotions in the middle are unreal! Pitched up on middle stump, Anushka lofts it towards long-on and gets a single
It took her a wide, but the umpire spreads her arms. The scores are level!
19.5 Nida Dar to Anushka Sanjeewani, spears it down the leg-side, Anushka sweeps and it drifts down the leg-side. A late signal by the umpire
2 off 2. Chat between bowler and keeper.
19.4 Nida Dar to Achini Kulasuriya, tossed up and outside off, Achini drives it down to extra cover for a single
19.3 Nida Dar to Achini Kulasuriya, full toss and outside off. It's a hit-me delivery and Achini tries to go fancy and misses it completely
Tense faces in the Sri Lankan camp...
Achini Kulasuriya, LHB, walks in at number 9
Drama, drama and more drama! Surely, surely there's no twists remaining in the tale? Chamari Athapaththu seems really agitated with the choice of shot from Sugandika Kumari...
19.2 Nida Dar to Sugandika Kumari, BOWLED! We are in for more thrills and spills. Pitched up outside off and it's fuller, Kumari sweeps and gets an inside edge to drag it back onto her stumps
Sugandika Kumari b Nida Dar 10 (9b, 2x4, 0x6)
19.1 Nida Dar to Sugandika Kumari, flighted delivery angling outside off, Kumari drags it down the track as it comes from the inside half
Nida Dar (2-0-17-0) will bowl the final over herself
The hosts are three runs away from a spot in the final. Pakistan have exceeded the time limit to complete their overs, and so, they'll need to have an extra fielder inside the circle. Of course, the Pakistan skipper decides to take matters into her own hands.