A distraught India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that there is room for a lot of improvement before the upcoming T20 World Cup and her team won’t easily forget the eight-wicket humbling at the hands of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final here on Sunday. India scored a decent 165 for 6 but rival skipper Chamari Athapaththu (62) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (69 not out) were severe on the visiting bowlers, finishing the match in 18.4 overs. The women’s T20 World Cup will be held in Bangladesh later this October.

“We are looking to improve in some areas. We will definitely work hard and remember this day. They have played such good cricket for so long and they played good cricket throughout this tournament,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation ceremony on Sunday.

She admitted that her side’s bowling didn’t work as per plans with hardly any breakthroughs to show for their efforts.

“We played good cricket throughout the tournament and, no doubt, we made a lot of fumbles today and that cost us.

“It was a decent total, we were looking for breakthroughs in the powerplay but it didn’t go according to plan and Sri Lanka batted really well,” the India skipper added.

Her Lankan counterpart Athapaththu was delighted after the island nation’s first major success in women’s international cricket.

“I am really happy about our team performance, especially the batting performances, especially Harshitha and Dilhari.

“We have played really good cricket in the last 12 months and we want to continue it. Never saw such a crowd, so special thanks go to the Sri Lankan people who came out to watch the game.

“This win is good not only for the team but the whole Sri Lanka because we have to inspire the next generation,” Chamari said.

Athapaththu played the most important knock of her life while anchoring the chase.

“I have to lead from the front, that’s my duty for my country. We always talk about positive things in the dressing room, for which the credit goes to the head coach and the support staff. Our next target is the (T20) World Cup,” she concluded.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s turbo-charged fifty combined well with the steadfast half-century of Harshitha Samarawickrama as a resilient Sri Lanka carved an eight-wicket win over defending champions India to bag their maiden women’s Asia Cup title in Dambulla on Sunday. This is the second time in nine Asia Cup editions (WODI and WT20I) across formats that India have lost a final. The last time India lost the final was against Bangladesh in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. Tasked with hunting down a strong target of 166, Sri Lanka served well by Athapaththu (61b, 43b, 9×4, 2×6) and Samarawickrama (69 not out, 51b, 6×4, 2×6) and finished at 167 for two in 18.4 overs.

Athapaththu and Samarawickrama added 87 runs as Lankans always stayed ahead of their opponents.

The stand for the for the second wicket was also of contrasts as Samarawickra was the yin to the yang of her aggressive leader.

Athapaththu fetched her fifty in 33 balls, and Samarawickrama went past her mark in 43 balls and their shot selection too was vastly differing.

Athapaththu scored through almost every reachable place on the field, and her assault on left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, who she biffed for two fours and six in her first over, was stunning.

But at the other end, Samarawickrama clearly lacked the power of her senior but she offset that with clever placings, such as reverse sweeps off left-arm spinners Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.

But she picked up the tempo when Sri Lanka reached a rather safer zone, muscling a slog-swept six off Yadav over mid-wicket.

In between, Deepti managed to bowl Athapaththu around her legs with a fuller delivery that sparked celebrations among the Indians, who till then looked lethargic on the field.

But those merriments were premature as Samarawickrama found an able sidekick in Kavisha Dilhari (30 not out, 16b, 1×4, 2×6) as the duo added 73 runs off just 40 balls for the unbeaten third wicket to guide their side home.

But an equal share of credit should go to the Lankan bowlers as well for stifling a set of free-flowing India batters.

Smriti Mandhana‘s conditions-defying half-century (60, 47b, 10×4) had powered India to a fighting 165 for six and she received reasonable backing from Jemimah Rodrigues (29, 16 balls, 3×4, 1×6) and Richa Ghosh (30, 14 balls, 4×4, 1×6).

But largely it was a tight contest for them against a plethora of Lankan spinners.

In fact, the home side included only one pacer in their ranks – Udeshika Prabodhani and the rest were slow bowlers.

The Lanka bowlers indeed made good use of a slow pitch as well, leaving the Indian batters a frustrated lot often.

It was evident from the struggles of Shafali Verma (16, 19 balls), who found it difficult to time her shots.

Mandhana had a massive slice of fortune when she was on 10 as her weak chip off spinner Dilhari (2/36) was put down at covers by Samarawickrama.

The left-hander made the hosts pay for that mistake with some gorgeous shots, especially against Prabodhani whom she carted for three fours in the sixth over as India reached 44 for no loss.

But Verma soon fell leg before to Dilhari after getting pinged on her pads while trying a tweak to the on-side.

As the Power Play came to an end, Mandhana had to resort to some improvisations such as scoops behind the stumper to get her boundaries.

The Indian vice-captain, who brought up her fifty in 36 balls, also often had to make room for herself or shuffle across the stumps to find the ropes because the ball was not exactly coming on to her bat.

While Mandhana managed to beat the slowness of the deck, it consumed Harmanpreet and Uma Chetry, who got a promotion to No. 3.

At 87 for three in the 12th over, India needed a move-on and it was given by an aggressive Rodrigues in the company of Mandhana, making 41 runs off 25 balls for the fourth wicket.

However, the run out of Rodrigues and the dismissal of Mandhana pushed India to 133 for five in 16.5 overs.

Ghosh played a typical swift innings that contained a massive slog-swept six off Dilhari over the mid-wicket.

In the company of Pooja Vastrakar, Ghosh milked 31 runs for the sixth wicket that carried India past the 160-run mark.

LIVE Updates: India vs Sri Lanka Women Asia Cup T20 Final© X (Twitter)

India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup Final, Live Streaming: India to face Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 on Sunday in Dambulla. Both the teams are yet to face a defeat in the ongoing tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur and co thrashed Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the semi-finals and entered the summit clash. On the other hand, hosts Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan. It will be a crucial game as Team India eyes eighth title.

When will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be played on Sunday, July 28.

Where will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.

What time will the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match start?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will start at 3:00 PM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match?

The India vs Sri Lanka, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, final match will be streamed live on Hotstar.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

Sri Lanka will face India in the final of Women’s Asia Cup T20.© X/@OfficialSLC

SL vs Pak Live Updates, Women’s Asia Cup, 2024 2nd Semi Final© X (Twitter)

Pacer Renuka Singh give the initial surge with a three-wicket haul while Smriti Mandhana made brisk fifty as India walloped Bangladesh by 10 wickets to march into their ninth women’s Asia Cup final in Dambulla on Friday. Defending champions India will face the winner of the second semifinal between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in the title clash on Sunday. Shafali (26*) and Mandhana (55*) were on song from the word go, as India overhauled the target of 81 without breaking a sweat.

India ended up at 83 for no loss in 11 overs.

Mandhana and Shafali’s knocks were filled with trademark shots around the ground as India motored to 46 for no loss in the Power Play.

Shafali, who was dropped on 21 off Rabeya Khan, played those powerful heaves across the line to find the fence.

Mandhana, at the other end, unfurled those exquisite drives on the off-side, such as the one the left-hander played through the covers against pacer Marufa Akter.

Mandhana also displayed her power while pulling pacer Jahanara Alam for a six over deep square leg as India trotted to a victory that was a long-forgone conclusion once Bangladesh were limited 80 for eight.

Renuka (3/10) upfront and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav in the middle overs (3/14) rattled Bangladesh with excellent spells.

In fact, Bangladesh hardly recovered from the deep wounds inflicted by Renuka in the first six overs.

Renuka, who bowled four overs on the trot during her 3/10 spell, received ample support from left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (3/14) after Bangladesh elected to bat first.

Renuka struck in the first over itself, dismissing Dilara Akter, whose slog sweep did not have enough power in it to clear Uma Chetry at deep mid-wicket.

In her next over, Renuka got the better of Ishma Tanjim with a delivery that stayed close to her body and a mistimed whip across the line was grabbed by Tanuja Kanwar at short third.

Renuka bagged her third wicket in as many overs with a slightly short of length delivery that Murshida Khatun slapped straight to Shafali at midwicket.

At 25 for three inside the Power Play segment, Bangladesh were falling apart fast and their real hope for a revival was the presence of skipper Nigar Sultana (32), the third highest run-getter in the tournament.

Sultana hung around resolutely but even she could not offer a meaningful fight to the Indian bowlers, who gave away just seven runs across overs seven and 10 while losing Rumana Ahmed to Radha’s quick arm ball.

There was also hardly any backing for Sultana and the excellent line of Indian spinners on the day meant that the right-hander could rarely play her preferred sweep shot.

The Indians, on their part, fielded vastly better compared to the previous games and Shafali was particularly impressive.

Her forward-diving catch to oust Rabeya off pacer Pooja Vastrakar was from the top draw.

There was a good little partnership of 36 runs for the seventh wicket between Sultana, who was dismissed for the first time in this tournament, and Shorna Akter (19*) but it came way too late to have any match-course altering effect.

IND vs BAN, Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Semi-Final, Live Updates© X (Twitter)

India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup Semi-Final, Live Streaming: India to take on Bangladesh in the first semi-final match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 on Friday in Dambulla. Harmanpreet Kaur and co reached the semis by remaining unbeaten in the Group stage. In Group A, they defeated Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal. On the other hand, Bangladesh lost one match in Group B against the table-toppers Sri Lanka. Both the teams will be putting their best foot forward, in order to reach the finale.

When will the India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match be played?

The India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match will be played on Friday, July 26.

Where will the India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match be played?

The India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla.

What time will the India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match start?

The India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match will start at 2:00 PM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match?

The India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match?

The India vs Bangladesh, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, semi-final match will be streamed live on Hotstar.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

Ahead of India facing Bangladesh in the first semi-final of 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, big-hitting opener Shafali Verma said the defending champions do realise that the knockout clash is a very important thing for them. So far in the tournament, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have been unbeaten – defeating Pakistan by seven wickets, winning by 78 runs against UAE and beating Nepal by 82 runs to top Group A. “Really happy with the way we all have gelled up with each other and are winning the matches. The semi-finals is a very important thing for us. Today, we all have come up for practice and hopefully, we will do our best thing to do good tomorrow,” said Shafali in the pre-match press conference.

With 158 runs, Shafali has been the second highest run-scorer in the tournament so far in an Indian batting line-up which has seen Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh come good with the bat. She feels the lower-order batters like Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar are capable off pulling off big hits if needed.

“We just back ourselves and as a batting unit, we are backing our strengths. The bowlers are doing a great job, but day by day, we have to keep improving ourselves. Every day, they (lower-order batters) are batting in the nets. Whenever they get a chance, I hope they get to hit sixes.”

Shafali signed off by saying India are putting in the hard yards to be better at fielding, an aspect which has been lukewarm for them in the Asia Cup. “We are working hard on our fielding. So, we will look to tick mark all the things – batting, bowling and fielding – and contribute for the best things in the semi-finals.”

Squads:

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (wk), Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwer, Sajana Sajeevan.

Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain & wk), Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorifa Khatun, Ritu Moni, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sultana Khatun, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Ishma Tanjim, Rabeya Khan, Rumana Ahmed, Marufa Akter, Sabikun Nahar Jesmin.