Sri Lanka Clinches Maiden Women’s Asia Cup Title by Defeating India

Sri Lanka made history on July 28, 2024, by winning their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title, defeating India by a convincing eight wickets in the final held in Dambulla.

The match saw a sensational performance from Harshita Samarawickrama, whose explosive batting in the final overs led her team to a successful chase of 166 runs set by India.

Despite strong contributions from Indian players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh, India’s fielding errors and less effective bowling played a significant role in their loss.

As the game reached its climax, Radha Yadav‘s tough over cost India dearly, leaking 17 runs and shifting momentum firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor.

With just 12 balls remaining, Sri Lanka needed only 8 runs to win, putting immense pressure on India’s bowlers and giving Sri Lanka the upper hand.

Harshitha Madavi’s impressive batting in the penultimate overs, including a six and a boundary against Radha Yadav, made it clear that Sri Lanka was on the path to victory.

Harshita Samarawickrama played a pivotal role in the run chase, earning herself a fifty off just 43 balls, crucially guiding her team closer to their historic win.

Throughout the chase, desperation grew when India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur dropped a crucial catch that could’ve put an end to Samarawickrama’s innings, a moment that India might come to regret.

Sri Lanka’s commanding chase was highlighted by Chamari Athapaththu’s remarkable performance, who also scored swiftly, keeping the scoreboard ticking before she was eventually dismissed.

By the time the match reached its conclusion, Sri Lanka had successfully chased down the target, with a remarkable performance solidifying their victory over a strong Indian side.