Women's Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka beats Pakistan by one run to reach the final with India
Sri Lanka pulled a stunning win by one run in a thriller when just three runs were needed off the last ball. The team has again proved itself, defending a low total of 122 in a must-win game
Sri Lanka beats Pakistan to meet India in final of Women’s T20 Asia CupInoka Ranaweera starred with two for 17 before Pakistan needed three off the last ball, which Nida Dar couldn't put away.
Anushka Sanjeewani and Chamari Athapaththu opened the innings for Sri Lanka, batting first. They got a brisk start scoring 23 runs in 3.5 overs before losing the first wicket. Harshitha Samarawickrama anchored to score 35 off 41 as the Sri Lanka women took the innings slowly. In contrast, Hasini Perera and Kavisha Dilhari's cameo fetched 20 runs in 13 balls to bring the total to 122/6.
Pakistani bowler Nashra Sandhu was exceptionally clinical, giving just 4.25 runs per over and scalping three crucial wickets.
Pakistan women also got a brisk start from openers scoring 31 runs in 3.1 overs. Skipper Bismah Maroof anchored with her 41-ball 42 runs. Even the middle order scored at a decent rate to keep the scoreboard ticking. But when 13 runs were needed from 12 balls in the last two overs, Inoka Ranaweera held her nerves in the penultimate over to give just four runs. Achini Kulasuriya gave it the finishing touch to steal the game, which looked in favour of Pakistan from the first inning itself.
As Sri Lanka won the knockout match, they will clash with India in the 2022 Asia Cup final on October 15.
India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup final prediction
India vs Sri Lanka is the final for the Women's Asia Cup 2022! Sri Lanka men did it last month by defeating Pakistan in the finals to claim the Asia Cup title and their women defeated Pakistan in knockouts to reach the finals. They have an opportunity to replicate what men did last month.
India has already locked horns with Sri Lanka in the tournament's second match at Sylhet, where India defeated them by mammoth 41 runs. It was a cracking contest between the two sides then. Jemimah Rodrigues shined to smash Lankan bowlers for 76 runs in 53 balls.
And now both sides are coming off with winning momentum. But this time, they will clash at the same venue for the title.
India's players to watch
1. Jemimah Rodrigues- She is the leading run scorer for India with 215 runs in seven matches with a strike rate of 137.82 and was the player of the match in the last fixture against Sri Lanka.
2. Deepti Sharma- She has given an economy of 4.78 in the tournament to be the highest wicket-taker for India and will be an essential asset for India.
Sri Lanka's players to watch
1. Harshitha Samarawickrama- In nine matches, she has scored 207 runs to be the leading run-getter for Sri Lanka in Asia Cup.
2. Inoka Ranaweera- She was the player of the match in the last clash with Pakistan for her stupendous spell of 2/17. She has scalped 18 wickets till now in this tournament.
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka is predicted to win because of their current form, as they have won three matches on the trot.
Top Picks
Smriti Mandhana
Hasini Perera
Inoka Ranaweera
Renuka Singh
What to expect from the pitch?
The pitch at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium is a flat surface. Toss-winning captain will like to bat first, but pacers will also hold an advantage in the initial overs. Overall a batting-friendly pitch with support to bowlers intermittently. Teams defending the total have a win percentage of 60%, so toss winning might play a role.
Team Squad
India(Predicted)- Richa Ghosh (wk), Taniya Bhatia, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav.
Sri Lanka(Predicted)- Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Chamari Atapattu (c), Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Malsha Shehani, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Achini Kulasuriya, and Sugandika Kumari.