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The two semi-finals of the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup in Sylhet produced two different dimensions on Thursday as Thailand’s fairy tale came to an end against India while Sri Lanka barely edged Pakistan in a thriller.
After India claimed a 74-run win against Thailand to reach the final, the expectations for an India vs Pakistan final grew.
But Sri Lanka arrived as the party spoiler for those hopes as they produced a brilliant performance to edge Pakistan by one run in a thriller to reach the final.
Batting first, Sri Lanka managed to put 122-6 on board. In reply, Pakistan looked comfortable in the chase as skipper Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar put together 42 runs for the fourth wicket to take them near victory.
But then, Sugandika Kumari dismissed Bismah for 42 with Pakistan requiring 16 off 16 deliveries.
What followed was a brilliant death-bowling performance from the Sri Lankans as they defended that run-a-ball situation to ensure their first Asia Cup final in 14 years.
After the match, Sri Lanka vice-captain Oshadi Ranasinghe accepted that Bismah’s dismissal was the turning point of the game.
“It’s a very good team effort. Bismah and Nida had a very good partnership. It looked like it was going to be a very good win for them. But Kavisha Dilhari and Malsha Shehani bowled very crucial overs in the middle overs. And that picked up the pressure. The wicket of Bismah changed the game,” she said in the post-match press conference.
While it was ecstasy for the Lankans, it was despair for Pakistan, for whom it was so close yet so far.
“Our journey has overall been pretty good in the tournament. We will work on the things we need to do and will not repeat the mistakes that we have done this time.
“It was a very sad moment. Everyone is very emotional, and it’s very hard for everyone,” Pakistan all-rounder Aliya Riaz said.
For Sri Lanka, the Asia Cups this year have been occasions of pure joy. The men’s team won it all earlier in UAE, and the women’s team are now a step away from doing so.
“All things happen from hard work. In the last year, we struggled as a men’s team, a women’s team, and a country. But now we are happy because the men’s team won the Asia Cup, and we will try to do our best in the final,” Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu said in the post-match press conference.
Athapaththu said they wanted to play their best cricket in the final against India.
“No message for India (laughs). We will stick with our plans. We know they are a very good team, but we want to play our best cricket in the final,” she said.
In the first semi-final, India gave Thailand no chance as the six-time winners of the tournament claimed an easy win.
Batting first, India put on 148-6 on board, courtesy of good innings from Shafali Verma (42), Harmanpreet Kaur (36), and Jemimah Rodrigues (27).
In reply, Thailand could not put up any fight as they scored just 74-9 in their 20 overs. Deepti Sharma was India’s best bowler once again as she picked up three wickets, taking her wickets tally for the tournament to 13, the most in this Asia Cup.
Deepti explained her way to success in the post-match press conference on Thursday.
“When you do well for the team and contribute to all the good things, it gives you confidence. You are boosted up from that for the next matches. I always bowl at my strengths. I prefer to focus on my strengths than focusing on what the batter is doing.
“Before the Asia Cup and after our series against England, in the two days I had, I did some single-wicket bowling. Those sessions helped me. And the wickets here are helping the spinners. And I always look to turn the ball. And those things are helping me,” the off-spinner said.
While the Sri Lankan team will look to make it two Asia Cups for their country in 2022, India will look to return to the helm after missing out for the first time in 2018.
The final starts at 1:30 PM on Saturday.
