MATCH RECAP
Follow UsSmriti Mandhana’s yet another brilliant fifty
Mandhana scored her 26th 50-plus score in T20Is, 60 off just 47 balls. This gave India a good platform to finish their innings on a high after economical spells by Sri Lankan spinners.
Sri Lanka spinners kept it tight
Off-spinner Inoshi Priyadharshani (31 runs @7.75) and left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari (23 runs @5.75) bowled economical spells and didn’t allow India’s top order to get going like they had in earlier games of the Asia Cup. As a result, India’s run rate kept hovering between 7-8 runs/over in the middle overs phase.
Jemimah and Richa’s much-needed finishing
Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 16) and Richa Ghosh (30 off 14) batted with a lot of intent. They took India’s score from 127 in 16 overs to 165 at the end of the 20th over, which allowed them a more than competitive total to try and defend.
Chamari and Harshitha’s brilliant attack
After Vishmi Gunaratne fell early, skipper Chamari Athapaththu (61 off 43) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (69* off 51) didn’t relent in their attack and thrashed the Indian bowlers, who were erratic with their line and length on the day. Kavisha Dilhari (30* off 16) joined Harshitha later to take Sri Lanka home with eight wickets in hand.
India’s poor fielding cost them big-time
Harmanpreet Kaur dropped Harshita Samarawickrama in the 16th over when Sri Lanka were 125/2 and needed 41 runs in 27 deliveries. Apart from that, ample misfields and the failure to convert half chances cost the Women In Blue another Asia Cup title.
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