Defending champions Sri Lanka have secured their place in the Women’s Asia Cup final following a gritty four-wicket victory against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. The win sets up a highly anticipated title clash against India, marking a repeat of the 2024 summit showdown.
Chasing a target of 131, Sri Lanka’s pursuit began in precarious fashion as they slumped to 33/4 within the first seven overs. However, a composed 67-run partnership between
A Resilient Chase and Tactical Recovery
The match appeared to be slipping away from Sri Lanka early on when Pakistan captain Fatima Sana struck twice in the second over, removing Chamari Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi with consecutive deliveries. With Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani also departing cheaply, the defending champions were left reeling.
Samarawickrama, who contributed 36 off 31 balls, and Dilhari, who added 33 from 33, proved instrumental in the recovery. By rotating the strike and finding consistent singles, the duo absorbed the pressure and brought their side within reach of the target. Although Sana returned to dismiss both set batters in the 17th over—finishing with impressive figures of 4/38—Nilakshika Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana remained composed to guide the team home, finishing unbeaten on 18 and 10 respectively.
Pakistan's Innings and the Road Ahead
Earlier in the day, Pakistan posted a total of 130/5 after being sent in to bat. Their innings mirrored the struggles of their opponents, as they were reduced to 52/4 by the 10th over. A spirited, unbeaten 47 from 36 balls by Sana, supported by early contributions from Shawaal Zulfiqar (24) and Gull Feroza (21), helped stabilize the score. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by two wickets each from Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda, ensured the target remained manageable.
Reflecting on the victory, Athapaththu praised the middle-order resilience, noting that the ability to absorb pressure and execute plans remains a core strength of her squad. For Pakistan, the loss marks the end of their tournament campaign. Sri Lanka now looks toward Sunday’s final, where they will aim to defend their title against an unbeaten Indian side in a bid to secure back-to-back championships.
