Cricket

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team made history on July 28th by capturing their first-ever Women's T20 Asia Cup title. The triumph was a testament to the team's resilience and determination, as they overcame a formidable Indian side in the final.Chasing a challenging target of 166, Sri Lanka's openers, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, set the tone with a blistering start. Athapaththu, the team's captain, led from the front with a 43-ball 61, while Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 69 from 51 deliveries. Their partnership of 113 runs laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's victory.India's bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters, with only Deepti Sharma managing to pick up a wicket. Kavisha Dilhari was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, claiming two wickets for 36 runs.Earlier, India had posted a competitive total of 165/6 in their 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana top-scored for India with a 47-ball 60, while Richa Ghosh provided a late flourish with a rapid 30.Sri Lanka's victory was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The team had shown glimpses of their potential in recent years, but they had never managed to reach the pinnacle of Asian cricket. This triumph is a testament to the team's growth and development, and it will undoubtedly inspire future generations of Sri Lankan cricketers.

Mohammad Wasim, the former Pakistan batter and men's chief selector, has been appointed head coach of the women's national team for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup. The tournament will be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, from July 19 to 28.Wasim, who has extensive coaching experience with Northern in the Pakistan domestic structure, will be assisted by former Pakistan bowlers Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman, who will serve as assistant coach and spin-bowling coach, respectively. No batting coach has been appointed, and it is understood that Wasim will act in that role himself.The PCB has confirmed that the appointments are only for the Asia Cup, and there has been no word on whether they could extend beyond the tournament.Wasim's appointment comes at a challenging time for the Pakistan women's team, which has struggled in recent tours to the West Indies and England. The team has won just one of eight T20Is in those tours and has gone winless in both ODI series.However, the team has also shown encouraging results in the past year, including a home T20I series whitewash of South Africa and becoming the first Asian women's side to win a T20I series in New Zealand.The T20 Asia Cup will be a crucial test for the Pakistan team, which will be looking to improve its recent form and prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa in February 2023.

Sri Lanka, fresh from securing their berth in the Women's T20 World Cup, will host West Indies for a three-match ODI and T20I series from June 15-28. The tour will serve as a crucial preparation for Sri Lanka ahead of the T20 Asia Cup, which they will also host starting July 20.For Sri Lanka, the series against West Indies will be their second bilateral T20I assignment this year, following their successful tour of South Africa in March and April. They are also scheduled to tour Ireland in August.West Indies, on the other hand, recently concluded a month-long tour of Pakistan, where they emerged victorious in both the ODI and T20I series. This tour of Sri Lanka will be their final competitive outing before the Women's T20 World Cup in October.The last time these two teams met in a bilateral series was in 2017, when West Indies swept Sri Lanka in both T20Is and ODIs. West Indies hold a dominant head-to-head record against Sri Lanka in T20Is, with 18 wins to Sri Lanka's 14. In ODIs, the contest has been closer, with West Indies winning 18 and Sri Lanka 14.However, this tour promises to be a more competitive affair, with Sri Lanka entering the series on the back of historic series wins over England, New Zealand, and South Africa in the past year.The ODI series, which is part of the ICC Women's Championship, will be played in Galle from June 15-21. The Women's Championship serves as a pathway to the 2025 ODI World Cup, with the top four teams apart from hosts India earning direct qualification. West Indies are currently seventh on the Women's Championship points table, while Sri Lanka are eighth.The T20Is will be held in Hambantota from June 24-28.