Dubai, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : Sri Lanka’s women’s faced a disappointing defeat in the Women’s Asia , losing to India by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Following the match, captain Chamari Athapaththu admitted that the team did not perform to expectations.
Athapaththu stated, “This is part of the game. One team wins, and one loses, but ultimately, I know we did not play our best cricket. We struggled significantly with our bowling during the powerplay. They played exceptionally well. However, we will bounce back, especially with the Asian Games coming up. We need to improve in several areas, and we will return stronger.”
The captain highlighted that despite the final setback, the team showcased strong performances throughout the tournament. “We defeated several teams and faced challenges in this match, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t good. We need to execute our plans better, and I believe we can come back. Many players, particularly Harshitha, Prabodha, and Nilakshika, have improved significantly and played well. We will carry these positives into the next series,” she added.
In the final, Sri Lanka struggled to chase down India’s target of 184 runs, getting bowled out for just 111. Athapaththu was the top scorer for her side with 36 runs, while Nilakshika Silva contributed 22. India’s bowling attack shone, with Shreyas taking four wickets for just 20 runs and Deepti Sharma claiming three for 19. On the batting front, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana both played aggressive innings, scoring 68 and 59 runs respectively. With this victory, India secured the Asia Cup title for a record eighth time.