Indian Women defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai to win their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, led by brilliant knocks from Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana alongside a stellar bowling display.
Indian Women Crowned Champions Again After Emphatic Win in Dubai
Indian Women produced a masterclass performance under the lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, defeating defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Powered by an explosive record-breaking opening stand and a disciplined bowling masterclass, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side completely outplayed their opponents to reclaim the continental crown.
See also: Deepti Sharma Takes Historic 5/10 as Indian Women Demolish Pakistan
Record-Breaking Openers Set the Stage
Opting to bat first on a pristine pitch, India’s star-studded opening pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana put on a batting exhibition that completely demoralized the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Shafali was in a destructive mood, blasting 68 runs off just 39 deliveries with the help of nine fours and two sixes. At the other end, Mandhana played a wonderfully fluent knock of 59 from 39 balls, laced with five boundaries and three sixes.
The duo shared a monumental 129-run partnership for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs, setting up the perfect foundation for a massive total. Although Sri Lanka managed to pull things back in the middle overs with a flurry of wickets, a sharp late cameo from the lower order pushed India’s formidable total to 183 for 5.
Mithali Ayodhya picked up one wicket for the bowling side, but the early damage had already been done.
Clinical Bowling Attack Dents Sri Lanka’s Chase
Facing a daunting target of 184, Sri Lanka needed a fast start, but the Indian pace attack struck early to put them on the back foot. Captain Chamari Athapaththu tried to shoulder the responsibility, fighting hard with a top score of 36 runs off 32 balls. She found some temporary support during a brief partnership, keeping the scoreboard ticking through the powerplay.
However, once the fielding restrictions ended, India’s spin department took complete control of the game. Deepti Sharma changed the course of the match in a single over, dismantling the partnership and finishing with brilliant figures of 3 for 19.
Sree Charani Derails the Middle Order
With the required run rate climbing steeply, Sri Lanka’s middle order collapsed under intense pressure. Enter Sree Charani, who put on a bowling clinic to dismantle any hopes of a late fightback. Charani carved through the batting lineup with remarkable precision, picking up crucial scalps including Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva.
The spinner finished with sensational figures of 4 for 20 from her four overs, suffocating the opposition batters and ensuring regular breakthroughs. Sri Lanka lost wickets in clumps, sliding rapidly as the pressure mounted.
The innings finally came to an end on the very last ball of the match as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111. The comprehensive 72-run victory avenged India’s previous final defeat and cemented their unmatched dominance in Asian women’s cricket.