Chamari Athapaththu’s heroic Sri Lankans storm into Asia Cup final against India. Plucky Lankans usurp Pakistan after keen tussel.
BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka’s meteoric rise continues to gain momentum as they surged into another Asia Cup final with a crushing four-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai.
The defending Asia Cup champion from a shock win over India in 2024, are primed to repeat that success although dominant India will be wary of their unhappy last meeting.
The burning question for India is whether they can hold their nerve and reverse the result of the last final where the pressure of expectation and perhaps overconfidence saw them fall in sensational fashion.
Unbeaten in the series so far, Chamari Athapaththu’s well rounded team are a genuine threat to most teams in the world these days.
Sri Lanka finished on top of their group with wins over hosts, UAE, Indonesia and Bangladesh while India were also unbeaten in their group setting up an epic final in humid conditions in Dubai.
The slow, low wickets in the middle east will test the batters of both sides as the tournament has shown so far with low totals being a feature.
On form, India look better equipped to take out this edition. But it will be their folly if they underestimate the plucky Sri Lankans who shocked them the last time they met in a final.
Sri Lanka and India have met twice in the past two Asia Cup final contests and are a win apiece. The Islanders will be determined to break the stranglehold the Indians have had since its inception.
In the semis, Pakistan were restricted to 130 for 5 in their 20 overs. Skipper Fatima Sana produced a fighting knock of 47 off 36 balls to save them some blushes and helped them recover from 92 for five after Sri Lanka’s bowlers led by Skipper Chamari Athapaththu 2 for 24 and Chamudi Praboda 2 for 25 kept a tight leash on the scoring.
Pakistan gallanty fought back to have Sri Lanka in dire straits at 33 for 4 before Sri Lanka’s middle order led by Harshitha Samarawickrema, 36 off 31, Kavisha Dilhari 33 off 33 and Nilakshika Silva 18 off 10 rose to the challenge and blasted their way back to a memorable victory with8 balls remaining. Samarawickrema and Dilhari combined to post an invaluable 67 for the fifth wicket in Sri Lanka’s recovery and surge towards the target.
Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was a standout in defeat top scoring with a heroic 47 off 36 balls, then causing havoc in Sri Lanka’s run chase with the ball claiming 4 for 38 in a valiant but vain effort. She was fittingly named Player-of-the-match.
Sri Lanka’s batting mainstay skipper Chamari Athapaththu has so far been subdued with the willow which appears an ominous sign before the final. She scored just one half century in the win over UAE and has contributed little thereafter.
Fortunately for Sri Lanka, they are not a one-trick pony anymore with the emergence of talented batters such as Harshitha Samarawickrema, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, and Nilakshika Silva who have stepped up and bolstered the batting when the top order has failed.
The emerging talent will test the strong Indians who are more talented than their new fierce rivals in Asia. With a strong batting line-up that boasts brilliant Smirti Mandhana, Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemima Rodriguez and a few others, Sri Lanka have their work cut out to contain them.
Sri Lanka’s cricketing resurgence which began under the astute guidance of former Test legend Rumesh Ratnayake and his coaching staff, has blossomed into an exciting unit that narrowly missed out on the semis at the recent World Cup in England.
Australia’s Jamie Siddons has taken them to another level and they look the goods as a dangerous competitor into the foreseeable future.
It is heartening that Sri Lanka’s presence from Asia is now serious, after India established themselves as the second best team in the world behind Australia.
The stage is set for a ripping final as Sri Lanka’s women attempt to set tone for glory and encourage their male counterparts who take on the herculean task of upsetting England at home in a three-match T20 and ODI series.
