Sri Lanka spinners stifle Pakistan to enter Asia Cup final after 14 years
WOMEN’S ASIA CUP 2022
Achini Kulasuriya bowled a stunning final over to help Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the second semi-final and march to the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Kulasuriya bowled full and straight throughout the over and left Pakistan needing three off the last ball. But Nida Dar could not clear cover, where Kavisha Dilhari dropped the catch running backwards but recovered well to return a throw to the wicketkeeper, who ran Dar out to squeeze out a one-run victory.It is Sri Lanka’s first T20 Asia Cup final, having made it to the title-clash three times when the tournament was an ODI affair. Pakistan would feel hard done by, as they were cruising till captain Bismah Maroof was at the crease.
When Maroof got out in the 18th over, Pakistan were in the driving seat needing a run-a-ball 16. But Inoka Ranaweera bowled a superb penultimate over – giving away just four and prising out big-hitting Ayesha Naseem cheaply – to leave eight for Kulasuriya to defend. She bowled full mostly and did not allow Aliya Riaz and Dar to free their arms. Eventually, it was down to the last ball but Dar couldn’t take Pakistan home, leaving Sri Lanka screaming in delight in front of the sparse crowd in Sylhet. Kulasuriya and Sri Lanka did not less the over-rate punishment, due to which they were allowed a fielder less outside the inner ring in the final over, hamper themSri Lanka would also be thankful to their batters for their fine effort earlier, particularly at the start when they got a few boundaries to get things going.
Sri Lanka raced to 39 in the powerplay, thanks mainly to wicketkeeper-batter Anushka Sanjeewani’s 26 off 21 balls. After being promoted to open, she struck a four and a big six over square-leg but fell in the last over of the fielding restriction. Chamari Athapaththu also struck a six but was the first batter to get out when she tried to slog Dar over long-on and was bowled. Nashra Sandhu’s classic left-armer’s delivery – pitching in line and turning away past the outside edge – deceived Sanjeewani, bringing an end to Sri Lanka’s powerplay exploits.
Harshitha Samarawickrama, however, ensured Sri Lanka didn’t let their good start go waste, adding 50 for the third wicket with Nilakshi de Silva. There was however just the one boundary between the pair. Samarawickrama struck that four in her 35 off 41 balls, before Sandhu removed her in the 18th over. Sandhu also had de Silva caught and bowled in her previous over and finished with 3 for 17 from her four overs.Sadia Iqbal and Aiman Anwar too bowled excellently in the last few overs, both picking up a wicket each as Sri Lanka made only 35 runs in the last five overs. They slipped from 102 for three to finish on 122 for 6 in the 20 overs.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 122 for 6 (Hasitha Samarawickrama 35, Anushka Sanjeewani 26, Nashra Sandhu 3-17) beat Pakistan Women 121 for 6 (Bismah Maroof 42, Nida Dar 26, Inoka Ranaweera 2-17) by one run
(Cricinfo)
