Sri Lanka break the ice – win Women’s Asia Cup for first time

Sri Lanka Women cricketers celebrate historic win in the Asia Cup

• Defending champions India outplayed in final by eight wickets
• Sri Lanka Cricket presents $ 100,000 to winners

Proud moment for Chamari Athapaththu as she holds the Women’s Asia Cup in her hands

Harshitha Samarawickrama guided Sri Lanka to victory with an unbeaten 69

The power of Chamari Athapaththu

Sri Lanka Women cricketers finally broke the ice when, after five unsuccessful attempts, they were able to beat seven-time champions India and win the Women’s Asia Cup for the first time to a packed house at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The heroines for Sri Lanka in this historic win were Captain Chamari Athapaththu and one drop batter Harshitha Samarawickrama, who scored 50s apiece to see their team chase down their highest target of 166 to win with eight balls to spare. 

Sri Lanka’s previous highest successful run chase was 156 against South Africa at East London in April this year. On that occasion too, Athapaththu and Samarawickrama were the match winners, with each of them scoring 50s. Athapaththu made 72 and Samarawickrama was 54*.

Yesterday at Dambulla, Athapaththu went on the offensive against India after she felt guilty for running out her partner Vishmi Gunaratne in the second over for one. Athapaththu unleashed her strokes with vengeance, hitting nine fours and two sixes in her knock of 61 off 43 balls before being bowled round her legs. With Samarawickrama, Athapaththu added 87 off 62 balls for the second wicket.

The fall of Athapaththu’s wicket silenced the entire stadium, but only for a while, because Samarawickrama took over the role of her captain to figure in a match-winning partnership of 83* off 40 balls with Kavisha Dilhari. Both batters never let the loss of their captain affect their confidence as they batted with a lot of purpose and determination to put India under pressure for the first time in the tournament.

Taken aback by Sri Lanka’s surprising counter attack, India’s fielding went to pieces on the field with several misfields and an important dropped catch by Captain Harmanpreet Kaur who put down Samarawickrama at 45, which in the end proved a costly miss.

Samarawickrama went onto make 69* off 51 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Dilhari’s 30* off 16 balls comprised one four and two sixes, the second of which was the winning hit which sealed the match in Sri Lanka’s favour. Dilhari punched the air in delight after the winning stroke as the whole stadium erupted into celebration mode. 

India winning the toss and batting first put up a decent total on the board on the back of a 50 from Smriti Mandhana (60 off 47 balls, 10 fours) and cameos from Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16, 3 fours, 1 six) and Richa Ghosh (30 off 14, 4 fours, 1 six). The fielding of both teams left much to be desired as Sri Lanka were also guilty of dropping catches.

Samarawickrama, who dropped two, said after winning Player of the Match that she was determined to make up for her loss on the field with her batting which she eventually did.

Player of the Series with 304 runs and three wickets, Athapaththu said: “I am happy about my team’s performance, especially the batting. Special thanks to Harshitha and Dilhari for their performances. It’s not a one-man show; the coaching staff has been great and finally we have won the Asia Cup. Special thanks to the Sri Lankan crowd, they supported our girls. This win is really good for our team, we have to inspire the girls in the future, so it’s special for Sri Lanka. It’s my duty to lead them from the front.”

The Sri Lankan team did a lap of honour in appreciation of their supporters and Sri Lanka Cricket was quick to respond, handing a cheque for $ 100,000 to the team for their victory. – (ST)

Scores: Indian Women 165-6 (20) (Smriti Mandhana 60, Jemimah Rodrigues 29, Richa Ghosh 30, Kavisha Dilhari 2/36)

Sri Lanka Women 167-2 (18.4) (Chamari Athapaththu 61, Harshitha Samarawickrama 69*)  

Kavisha Dilhari celebrates after making the winning hit for six