Sri Lanka suffer 72-run defeat in final
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
India Women recorded a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in the Women’s Asia Cup final tonight (13) to claim the 2026 title. Batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India scored 183 for 5, before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 111 at the end of 20 overs in the chase.
Having remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, India secured the Asia Cup title for the eighth time in its history and their fourth in the Twenty20 format. The victory further underlined India’s dominance in Asian women’s cricket.
Sri Lanka, however, were unable to produce the performance expected of them in the final. They failed to maintain the required scoring rate with the bat and could not pressure India’s openers or contain the run rate with the ball. Sri Lanka’s fielding also fell short of India’s standard, leaving them second-best in all three main departments of the game.
Shafali Verma gave India a rapid start, scoring 68 off 39 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes, while Smriti Mandhana made 59 off 39 deliveries with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Their massive 129-run opening partnership was the key to building India’s imposing total.
Gunalan Kamalini then struck an unbeaten 15 off 5 balls, including a four and a six, to lift India to 183 in the closing stages.
Chamudi Prabodha, Chamari Athapaththu and Mithali Ayodhya took one wicket apiece for Sri Lanka, although Prabodha conceded 40 runs and found it difficult to contain India’s batters.
Chasing 184, Sri Lanka were under intense pressure from India’s bowlers from the outset. Imesha Dulani was dismissed for 4 in the first over. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne then offered Sri Lanka some hope with a 58-run partnership for the second wicket, but the innings collapsed rapidly once that stand was broken.
Chamari Athapaththu top-scored for Sri Lanka with 36, while Vishmi Gunaratne made 20. Nilakshika Silva launched a quick counterattack with 22 off 16 balls, but insufficient support from the other batters prevented Sri Lanka from reaching the target.
Shree Charani produced an excellent bowling display for India, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs from 4 overs. Deepti Sharma dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order with 3 wickets for 19 runs, while Prema Rawat claimed one wicket.
Sri Lanka defeated India in the 2024 final in Dambulla to win their first Women’s Asia Cup title, but India reclaimed the crown with victory in this year’s final.
India – 183/5 (20 overs) – Smriti Mandhana 59, Shafali Verma 68, Harmanpreet Kaur 14, Richa Ghosh 17, Deepti Sharma 5, Gunalan Kamalini 15 not out, Chamudi Prabodha 40/1, Chamari Athapaththu 34/1, Mithali Ayodhya 33/1
Sri Lanka – 111 (20 overs) – Chamari Athapaththu 36, Vishmi Gunaratne 20, Nilakshika Silva 22, Imesha Dulani 04, Harshitha Samarawickrama 09, Kavisha Dilhari 07, Hasini Perera 01, Kaushani Nuthyangana 09, Sugandika Kumari 01, Mithali Ayodhya 00, Chamudi Prabodha 00*, Shree Charani 20/4, Deepti Sharma 19/3, Prema Rawat 22/1, Shafali Verma 23/1, Kranti Goud 8/1
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting