Cricket

Pakistan and Sri Lanka kicked off the Women's Asia Cup 2023 in Sharjah with a thrilling encounter. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana opted to bat first, citing the slow wicket and low bounce. Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, on the other hand, was content to chase, given her team's recent success and the abundance of spin options in their arsenal.Pakistan's batting lineup featured Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig, and Omaima Sohail. Sri Lanka's team included Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshita Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Sachini Nisansala, and Udeskhika Prabodani.Despite Pakistan's slight edge in the head-to-head record, Sri Lanka had won the last three matches between the two sides. The match was poised to be a close contest, with both teams eager to start the tournament on a positive note.

India Elects to Bat First in Women's Asia Cup Final Against Sri LankaIn the highly anticipated final of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday. The decision was influenced by the fact that the same pitch used for both semi-finals would be utilized for the final.India's lineup remained unchanged from their victory over Bangladesh in the semi-final, with Uma Chetry retaining her spot at No. 3. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her team's desire to bowl first and improve their fielding. They made one alteration to their XI, bringing in left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala for seamer Achini Kulasuriya.Both teams have maintained an undefeated record throughout the tournament. India has emerged victorious in three out of four T20 Asia Cup editions and four times in the ODI format. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is yet to claim a title.Sri Lanka:1. Vishmi Gunaratne2. Chamari Athapaththu (capt)3. Harshitha Samarawickrama4. Hasini Perera5. Anushka Sanjeewani (wk)6. Kavisha Dilhari7. Nilakshika Silva8. Inoshi Priyadharshani9. Udeshika Prabodhani10. Sugandika Kumari11. Sachini NisansalaIndia:1. Shafali Verma2. Smriti Mandhana3. Uma Chetry4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)5. Jemimah Rodrigues6. Richa Ghosh (wk)7. Deepti Sharma8. Pooja Vastrakar9. Radha Yadav10. Renuka Singh11. Tanuja KanwarThe match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two formidable teams. India will aim to extend their dominance in the tournament, while Sri Lanka will be determined to create history by claiming their first Asia Cup title.

India vs Sri Lanka: Women's Asia Cup Final Set for Sunday ShowdownThe stage is set for an enthralling final in the Women's Asia Cup 2024 as India and Sri Lanka prepare to battle it out for the coveted title on Sunday, July 28. Both teams have remained undefeated throughout the tournament, showcasing their dominance and determination.India, led by the experienced Harmanpreet Kaur, has been in imperious form. They cruised to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the semi-finals, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma leading the charge with blistering knocks. The team is eyeing its eighth Women's Asia Cup title, a testament to their consistent excellence.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has emerged as a formidable force in this tournament. They edged past Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final, with Chamari Athapaththu and Nilakshi de Silva playing pivotal roles. The hosts will be buoyed by the home crowd support and will be eager to create history by winning their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title.The final match will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. The action will commence at 3:00 PM IST and will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network. Fans can also catch the live streaming of the match on Hotstar.Both India and Sri Lanka have a wealth of experience and talent in their ranks. India will rely on the batting prowess of Mandhana, Verma, and Kaur, while Sri Lanka will look to Athapaththu, de Silva, and Harshitha Madavi to deliver the goods.The final promises to be a captivating contest between two evenly matched teams. India will be aiming to extend its dominance in the tournament, while Sri Lanka will be determined to upset the favorites and etch their name in the history books.

Defending champions India are poised to extend their dominance in the Women's Asia Cup, aiming for a record-extending eighth title as they face a spirited Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday.India has been unstoppable in this continental showpiece, crushing Pakistan by seven wickets, followed by facile victories over UAE (78 runs), Nepal (82 runs), and Bangladesh (10 wickets). Their top-order batters and bowlers have fired in unison, leaving their opponents with no chance to mount a fight.Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have amassed over 100 runs each at a healthy strike rate of over 140, providing India with solidity and quick starts. However, the management may be even more pleased with the bowlers' response to the challenge, particularly Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh.Deepti is the leading wicket-taker of the event with nine scalps, while Renuka is third on the chart with seven. Their economy rate across four matches has been brilliant – 4.37 and 4.31 respectively. This has ensured that the opposition batters have no breathing space at the top or in the middle-overs, phases when Renuka and Deepti often operate.It has also aided other bowlers, as batters often look for relief shots against them. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav is a prime example, having taken six wickets at an economy of 5.5, feeding on the success of her senior colleagues.While there is no palpable worry in the Indian camp, they may be slightly concerned about the lack of batting time for skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. Harmanpreet has batted just twice in three matches, despite making a riveting 66 in one of them, while Rodrigues is yet to hit top gear in three innings. The think tank will hope that these experienced campaigners can find their range if the situation demands it."They might not have got that much time in the middle, but everyone is working hard at nets, and I am sure they will fire when the time comes," wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh had said.On the other hand, Sri Lanka is also undefeated in this event and has scored the biggest victory in terms of runs – a 144-run toweling of Malaysia in the group stage. The primary reason behind their supremacy is the fine form of skipper Chamari Athapathuthu, the leading run-scorer here with 243 runs.However, there is a bleaker side to it. Apart from Athapathuthu, none of their batters have scored over 100 runs, with Rushmi Gunarathne a distant second with 91 runs. Their bowling too offers a similar story. Except for off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari (7 wickets, economy 5.35), other Lankan bowlers have failed to make an impact as yet.In that context, the Islanders will require a quick all-round improvement against a settled India to have a smidgeon of chance even to stretch them.

Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu Guides Team to Asia Cup Final with Resolute Half-CenturyIn a thrilling encounter at Dambulla, Sri Lanka's skipper Chamari Athapaththu led her team to a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second semifinal of the Women's Asia Cup. The win propelled Sri Lanka into the championship match against India, who had earlier defeated Bangladesh by 10 wickets.Athapaththu, the tournament's leading run-scorer, played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's triumph. Her well-timed 63 off 48 deliveries, studded with nine fours and a six, singlehandedly steered the Lankans towards the 141-run target. Her crucial partnership of 61 runs with Kalisha Dilhari (17 off 18 balls) for the third wicket provided Sri Lanka with a solid foundation.Anushka Sanjeevani's unbeaten 24 off 22 balls, including a four and a six, also played a significant role in Sri Lanka's successful chase. The hosts reached the target of 141 for 7 in 19.5 overs, securing their place in the final.Pakistan's bowling attack was led by the experienced left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, who claimed an impressive 4 wickets for 16 runs in her four overs. However, she lacked adequate support from her fellow bowlers, allowing Sri Lanka to overcome the challenge.Earlier, Pakistan's innings was anchored by useful contributions from Muneeba Ali (37), Gull Feroza (25), captain Nida Dar (23), and Fatima Sana (23 not out). Despite getting starts, none of them managed to convert their scores into more substantial ones, resulting in Pakistan posting a total of 140 for four in 20 overs.

Sri Lanka Opts to Bowl First in Women's Asia Cup Semi-Final Against PakistanIn a crucial semi-final clash of the Women's Asia Cup, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu elected to field first after winning the toss in Dambulla. Athapaththu expressed her team's intention to restrict Pakistan to a modest total of 140 or less.Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan fielded unchanged lineups for the high-stakes encounter. Pakistan skipper Nida Dar, on the other hand, preferred to bat first in a knockout match to alleviate pressure. She also stated that a score above 140 would provide a solid foundation for their defense.Sri Lanka, who have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, and Pakistan have experienced contrasting fortunes in T20I cricket this year. Athapaththu's team has triumphed in 12 of their 15 matches, while Pakistan has managed only three victories in 11 outings, with two of those wins coming in the ongoing Asia Cup.The winner of this semi-final will advance to the final to face India, who have already secured their place.Sri Lanka Playing XI:1. Vishmi Gunaratne2. Chamari Athapaththu (c)3. Harshitha Samarawickrama4. Hasini Perera5. Anushka Sanjeewaniu (wk)6. Kavisha Dilhari7. Nilakshika Silva8. Inoshi Priyadharshani9. Udeshika Prabodhani10. Sugandika Kumari11. Achini KulasuriyaPakistan Playing XI:1. Gull Feroza2. Muneeba Ali (wk)3. Sidra Amin4. Nida Dar (c)5. Omaima Sohail6. Aliya Riaz7. Fatima Sana8. Tuba Hassan9. Sadia Iqbal10. Nashra Sandhu11. Syeda Aroob Shah

India's women's cricket team secured a commanding victory over Bangladesh in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup, advancing to their ninth final appearance. Led by Renuka Singh's three-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana's blistering half-century, India cruised to a 10-wicket triumph.Bangladesh, opting to bat first, faced an early setback as Renuka Singh dismissed Dilara Akter in the opening over. The Indian pacer continued her dominance, removing Ishma Tanjim and Murshida Khatun in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 25 for three.Captain Nigar Sultana attempted to anchor the innings, but found limited support from her teammates. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav provided excellent support to Renuka, claiming three wickets of her own. Bangladesh's innings eventually folded for a meager 80 runs.In response, India's openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the chase. Mandhana showcased her class with elegant drives and a towering six, while Shafali played with characteristic aggression. The duo remained unbeaten, guiding India to victory in just 11 overs.Mandhana's 55 not out off 39 deliveries included nine boundaries and a six, while Shafali contributed an unbeaten 26 off 28 balls. India's fielding was also impressive, with Shafali making a diving catch to dismiss Rabeya Khan.India will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday. The defending champions will be aiming to extend their dominance in the tournament, having won the previous six editions.

India vs Bangladesh: Women's Asia Cup Semifinal 1 Live ScoreIn the highly anticipated semifinal clash of the Women's Asia Cup, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and elected to bat first against India. The match is being played at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.India, the overwhelming favorites, have been in impressive form throughout the tournament, winning all three of their group matches convincingly. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has shown glimpses of their potential, but they will need to play at their best to upset the Indian juggernaut.Bangladesh's slow bowlers, led by Nahida Akhter and Rabeya Khan, will be key to their chances of success. Both bowlers have claimed five wickets apiece in the tournament so far and will look to put pressure on India's experienced batting lineup.India will be relying on their star-studded batting unit to deliver once again. Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur are all in good form and will be looking to make significant contributions.The start of the innings will be crucial for India, and Shafali Verma will be eager to give her team a solid foundation. The young opener has been in excellent touch throughout the tournament and will be looking to continue her impressive run.India will also need their bowlers to step up and deliver. The likes of Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad will be tasked with containing Bangladesh's batters and picking up regular wickets.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with contrasting styles of play. India will be looking to impose their dominance and secure a place in the final, while Bangladesh will be aiming to pull off an upset and make history.

Shafali Verma Emphasizes All-Round Improvement for India Ahead of Asia Cup SemifinalIndian opener Shafali Verma has highlighted the need for her team to enhance their performance in all aspects of the game as they prepare for the women's Asia Cup semifinal clash against Bangladesh on Friday.Despite India's impressive run in the tournament so far, Verma believes there is room for improvement. "We are winning the matches and gelling well as a team, but the semifinal is very important for us," she said. "We are practicing very hard, and hopefully we will execute (plans) tomorrow."Verma, who has been the second-highest run-scorer in the competition with 158 runs from three appearances, emphasized the importance of the batting unit continuing to perform. "As a batting unit, we are backing our strength," she said. "Bowlers are also doing well at nets. But we need to keep improving ourselves."The 20-year-old also mentioned that the lower-order batters have been working hard in practice, despite not having had the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the tournament. "They haven't had much of a chance (to bat), but Deepti (Sharma), Pooja (Vastrakar), and all other lower batters are practicing well, and I am sure they are ready to hit a few sixes whenever their opportunity comes," she said.Verma stressed that the current title holders are particularly focused on improving their fielding. "We are working hard on our fielding," she said. "Hopefully, we will be able to tick the boxes in all three departments - batting, bowling, fielding - tomorrow against Bangladesh."