• Sri Lanka registered a thrilling 3-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Semifinal 2 of the Women's Asia Cup 2024.

  • Chamari Athapaththu was named Player of the Match for her exceptional batting.

Fans erupt as Chamari Athapaththu helps Sri Lanka edge past Pakistan to reach the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

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In a dramatic Semi-Final 2 of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 held at Dambulla on Friday (July 26), Sri Lanka Women secured their place in the final with a thrilling 3-wicket victory over Pakistan Women. Chasing a competitive target of 141, Sri Lanka achieved their goal with just one ball to spare, thanks to a gritty 63 from their captain, Chamari Athapaththu. Sri Lanka will now face the seven-time champions, Indian Women, in the final, aiming to cap off a strong tournament performance with the championship.

Pakistan’s competitive total

Pakistan set a competitive total of 140/4 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by Muneeba Ali, who contributed a solid 37 off 34 balls, including five boundaries. Gull Feroza also played a valuable role, scoring 25 off 24 balls. Captain Nida Dar added a quickfire 23 off 17 balls, while Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz provided a late boost with their unbeaten contributions.

The key partnership of the innings came between Muneeba and Nida, who added 33 runs for the fourth wicket. Despite this steady buildup, Pakistan’s innings faced significant disruptions from Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Udeshika Prabodhani and Kavisha Dilhari each took two wickets, while Sugandika Kumari and Athapaththu maintained the pressure with their economical spells.

Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Date, Match Time, Venue, Broadcast and Live Streaming Details

Sri Lanka chase led by Chamari Athapaththu

In response, Sri Lanka chased down the target of 141 in dramatic fashion. Athapaththu was instrumental in the chase, scoring a crucial 63 off 48 balls with nine boundaries and one six. Her innings was pivotal in guiding Sri Lanka towards victory. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari also made contributions with 12 and 17 runs, respectively, but it was the late surge from Anushka Sanjeewani that ensured Sri Lanka crossed the finish line.

Sadia Iqbal was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking four key wickets for just 16 runs. Despite her exceptional performance, Sri Lanka’s consistent batting and strategic partnerships allowed them to inch closer to the target. The final over was particularly tense, with Sri Lanka needing 6 runs off the last 6 balls. Sanjeewani’s composed innings secured the win with a ball to spare. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Nida and Omaima Sohail, provided strong resistance but could not prevent Sri Lanka from clinching the victory.

Here’s how Fans reacted:

 

Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Here are the complete squads of all 8 teams</h3

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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AMAR PAL SINGH BHALLA
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