Athapaththu, Samarawickrama stun India as Sri Lanka win their first Women's Asia Cup title
Smriti Mandhana's half-century took India to 165 but it proved inadequate
Smriti Mandhana's half-century took India to 165 but it proved inadequate
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: @HemantBrar_
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Chamari Athapaththu collects the trophy and the Sri Lanka players pose for a team photograph. Everyone has got their medals out. Beautiful scenes. Also, SLC has announced a reward of $100,000 for the team. It's in addition to the prize money by the ACC.
Chamari Athapaththu: I am really happy about our team performance, especially the batting performances, especially Harshitha and Dilhari. We have played really good cricket in the last 12 months and we want to continue it. Never saw such a crowd, so special thanks goes to the Sri Lankan people who came out to watch the game. This win is good not only for the team but the whole Sri Lanka because we have to inspire the next generation. I have to lead from the front, that's my duty for my country. We always talk about positive things in the dressing room, for which the credit goes to the head coach and the support staff. Our next target is the World Cup. But we want to take it one match at a time. [Will we see her playing for a long time] Hopefully, till the next 50-over World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur: We played good cricket throughout the tournament but today we made a lot of fumbles. It was a decent total. Sri Lanka batted really well and didn't make it easy for us. There are a lot of areas we can improve upon and we will remember this day. Sri Lanka have been playing good cricket for quite some time. Congrats to them and credit goes to them.
Chamari Athapaththu is the Player of the Tournament.
Harshitha Samarawickrama is the Player of the Match: I am very happy that I scored in this game. It's a great feeling. In the field I missed two catches, but even at that time, I thought to myself that no matter how many runs India score, I will make sure I hunt them down. I was able to stay there till the end and do that. I had failed in the past but very happy today. When Chamari was out, I wanted to play positive cricket with Kavisha and it worked out well in the end. I am very thankful to the coach that he gave me the freedom to play.
6.30pm Time for the presentation ceremony.
By the way, this is Sri Lanka's highest successful chase in T20Is.
Madushka Balasuriya tells me the music from the stands was non-stop, even when Athapaththu fell. And the fun fact, it's the band from Athapaththu's own Ibbagamuwa Central College.
6.20pm The Sri Lanka players are doing a lap of honour. A couple of players have lifted Udeshika Prabodhani on their shoulders.
Prasanth Nottat: "Chamari!! You deserve this!!This will give SL immense confidence and could propel their run in the upcoming WC due in 2 months."
Sameer Usmani : "Harshitha was at 29 off 27 balls when Chamari departed. Since then she has scored 40 off 24 balls to won the Cup for Sri Lanka. Incredible game awareness."
Monique : "Remember watching SL play the first game of this tournament and hearing a commentator remark that India is too good for any team in this competition. The Lankan ladies have shown remarkable heart and fight and proven themselves before world. Deserving champions "
Uwaisul Karnain: "I think the turning point was the 14th over in which Harshitha kept the momentum with a boundary and six after Chamari's wicket!"
Wijerathne Bohi: "You didnt publish my comment. I asked you to watch out for the wounded lioness"
Harshitha Samarawickrama: To win the Asia Cup final is a great thing. Thanks to the crowd - I have seen such a crowd for the first time.
6.15pm The celebration are not going to stop tonight. What a win by Sri Lanka, that too in front of a home crowd. Athapaththu led the chase with 61 off 43 but when Deepti bowled her, it felt India could stage a comeback but Harshitha and Dilhari had other ideas. They took an over to assess the situation but soon after that put the pressure on India. Harshitha finished with an unbeaten 69 off 51 and Dilhari 30 off 16 to take the side home with eight wickets and eight balls to spare.
Pooja Vastrakar to bowl the 19th. Around the wicket
Radha Yadav's 47 runs are the most conceded in an innings at the women's T20 Asia Cup, Sampath tells me
Only eight needed from two overs. This is Sri Lanka's game to lose now.
Ajey: "To be fair, Sri Lanka had its own share fielding lapses, so it's not fielding alone to be blamed here. Why didn't Kaur brought herself on for bowling?"
He took over at a difficult time in early 2023 and has led them to several series wins and now the Asia Cup title
Just how big was Sri Lanka's Asia Cup triumph on Sunday? The answer is in the reactions of Athapaththu, Dilhari and Samarawickrama after the game
No team has ever successfully chased more than Sri Lanka's 166 in a women's T20I final
Athapaththu, 34, has been coy about her future over the last several months
Smriti Mandhana's half-century took India to 165 but it proved inadequate