Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana put India firmly in control with a spectacular opening partnership before Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma completed the job with the ball, as India thrashed defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title on Sunday.
The final was effectively decided during the opening 13 overs of India’s innings. Shafali and Mandhana tore into the Sri Lankan attack, adding 129 runs from just 12.5 overs to provide India with a platform from which they could push towards a massive total.
Shafali was particularly destructive. The 22-year-old raced to her half-century in only 24 balls, making it the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history. She surpassed Mandhana’s 25-ball effort against
the same opposition in the 2022 edition. Shafali eventually finished with 68 from 39 deliveries, hitting nine fours and two sixes.
She made her intentions clear almost immediately, taking on Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu in the Powerplay. Three consecutive boundaries, including two sixes, came off Athapaththu as India surged to 57 without loss after six overs.
Mandhana initially played the supporting role, reaching 23 from 22 balls as Shafali dominated the scoring. But once her opening partner reached fifty, the vice-captain shifted gears herself. She cleared the ropes against Nilakshi Silva and Chamudi Praboda before producing one of her trademark inside-out drives through the covers off Athapaththu.
Mandhana brought up her 36th T20I half-century from 35 balls and finished with 59 from 39 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes.
Sri Lanka finally broke through when Shafali struck Praboda straight to Athapaththu. Mandhana followed soon after in unfortunate circumstances, getting involved in a yes-no call with Harmanpreet Kaur and being run out. It was the third time she had been dismissed by a run-out during the tournament.
India were 140/2 after 15 overs, but Sri Lanka improved considerably at the death. Richa Ghosh fell for 17 just as she began accelerating, while pacer Mithali Ayodhya and the other Sri Lankan bowlers found better lines. India managed only 43 runs in the final five overs.
Still, the early onslaught proved decisive. A late cameo from Gunalan Kamalini, who struck 15 from five balls, pushed India to 183/5.
Sri Lanka’s chase never gathered enough momentum. Athapaththu was their main source of resistance, adding 58 for the second wicket with Vishmi Gunaratne. But Deepti Sharma turned the game decisively in India’s favour during the 10th over.
Athapaththu attempted to charge Deepti but was beaten in flight, with Richa completing the stumping. Three balls later, Gunaratne attempted a sweep and was bowled around her legs.
At 63/3 after 10 overs, with the required rate already above 12, Sri Lanka’s hopes were fading fast. Charani then took centre stage, claiming four wickets for 20 runs as India repeatedly struck through the lower order.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111 in 20 overs, with Athapaththu’s 36 and Nilakshika Silva’s 22 their only substantial contributions. Deepti finished with 2/15, while Charani’s four-wicket haul completed India’s emphatic victory and secured their eighth Asia Cup crown.
(With PTI Inputs)
