India Win Record-Extending Eighth Women’s Asia Cup Title

India delivered a complete game performance to beat Sri Lanka and clinch their record-breaking eighth women’s Asia Cup title. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana laid the platform with their destructive half centuries, but India’s spinners took apart the challenge set by Sri Lanka. India managed to score 183/5 and defend that total to claim another unbeaten title. The victory also came as a sweet revenge for the Indians after suffering defeat against Sri Lanka in the finals of 2024.

Shafali, Mandhana Lay Foundation For Indian High Score

After deciding to bat, India got off to a flying start with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana going on to score 57 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay.

Shafali was especially hard-hitting, scoring a fifty off only 24 deliveries to become the fastest fifty-scorer in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. It was her 21st T20 International half-century, third in the tournament and second in successive innings.

Mandhana too kept up the offensive and brought up her fifty off 35 balls. She and Shafali put on their sixth century partnership ever.

Sri Lanka finally broke their stand in the 13th over with 17-year-old Chamudi Praboda dismissing Shafali for 68. Mandhana was later run out for 59 off 39 balls.

India lost three wickets for just seven runs towards the end of their innings, but a late six by G Kamalini helped them post 183/5.

India’s Spinners Tear Apart Sri Lanka’s Pursuit

In the 2nd Innings, Sri Lanka began on a high note, India’s bowling unit quickly dominated the game.

Sharma made the vital breakthrough by sending off the skipper Chamari Athapaththu via stumping before dismissing Vishmi Gunarathne two deliveries later. At half-way mark, Sri Lanka were 63/3 putting India in the driver’s seat.

After that, Sree Charani got rid of the promising stand between Harshita Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva through a return catch.

The impressive spin attack of India did not allow Sri Lanka to gain the necessary impetus to chase down 184.

Unbeaten India Claim Women’s Asia Cup Title

This win helps India secure their eighth Women’s Asia Cup championship and also makes the team unbeaten throughout the competition. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur was full of praise for Shafali, saying that the latter played a responsible role with the bat and the ball.

Overall, Shafali managed to score 236 runs in five innings, scoring three half-centuries.

The win can also be seen as revenge against Sri Lanka who won the title in 2024 in the Dambulla finals.