Unbeaten Sri Lanka women poise to enter T-20 Asia Cup final
Four semi final team captains from left Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh Capt) Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Capt) Harmanpreet Kaur (India Capt) and Nida Dar (Pakistan Capt )Four semi final team captains from left Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh Capt) Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Capt) Harmanpreet Kaur (India Capt) and Nida Dar (Pakistan Capt )
Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan in their Asia Cup T-20 semi final today (26) at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium commencing at 7 pm while defending champions India will meet Bangladesh in their semi final from 2 pm onwards at the same venue.
Sri Lanka and India are on top in their respective groups after the league round with an unbeaten record while Pakistan led by Nida Dar lost to India and Bangladesh led by Nigar Sultana lost to Sri Lanka in their league round matches having two wins each In fact earlier in this Asia Cup series Sri Lanka became runners up at five times 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2022 and this time with home advantage they are looking to enter final and clinch the maiden title and skipper Chamari Athapatuthu always back her team to go match by match.
We are ready to take up challenge against Pakistan at the semi final with new plans said skipper Chamari Athapaththu the most successful batter of this tournament.
Pakistans openers Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali are in top form and we want to get early breakthrough to put pressure. We have plans and going to execute our plans to bring success. Actually we have few issues to correct in three departments batting, bowling and fielding.
We have to play second semi final at night and wanted to adjust to the conditions at night and these areas we have to discuss before this semi final.
We also had a plan to bat first in last game against Thailand to give more chances for top order batters but it was not an issue while especially my opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne presently playing very well and she is an asset for the team. Batting with Vishimi as an opener very easy and she can handle pressure situations very well and always maintain a good mentality and all these are good for the player to build up good confidence.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu said about her playing style. I really enjoy my cricket, don’t want to take too much risks. I always play my natural game. I enjoy hitting sixes because I work hard doing power hitting in the nets, so I continue it in the middle said the dashing left hand opener.
Chamari wan unbeaten on 49 while she finished with a leg bye to seal the victory against Thailand Chamari said I didn’t think of my individual landmark, was just thinking of winning the game and always plan one game at a time, just be serious but at the same time not take too much pressure on my shoulders while always like to see youngsters performances for team success said skipper Athapaththu.
Chamari easily became the highest Individual scorer having first ever Asia Cup T-20 century (119 not out) and already she is the top scorer 180 runs in 3 matches and her batting power always benefits Sri Lanka to make challenging innings. Meanwhile Skipper Chamari is happy with Sri Lanka team fielding so far in this tournament. Our players took good catches and all credit should go to fielding coach Carman Mapatuna and our supporting staff and all are working hard to get success.
Sri Lanka women’s team made four changes at the Malaysia game to give match experience for youngsters but they played at full strength once again in their last Thailand game.
Udeshika Probodhani, Achini Kulasuriya two fast bowlers with spinners Inoshi Fernando, Kavisha Dilhari and Sugandika Kumari and 15-year-old Shashini Gimhani the wrist spinner who played one game against Malaysia having 3 for 9 among wicket taking spinners but team has not been finalised for the semi final. However skipper Chamari said wants to play best team and never underestimate Pakistan as they also performed well at this tournament.
India led by Harmanpreet Kaur also very confidence of her team to playing in this semi final.
Their opener Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are in good form while Verma is the second highest scorer of the tournament having 158 runs while Bangladesh opener Mushida Kautan having 130 runs is in third place and Pakistan opener Gull Feroza having 124 runs is fourth place among the batters and four semi finalist teams have very strong top order batting line up and all the teams aiming to make early breakthrough to put pressure.
Indian off spinner Deepthi Sharma is on top of the bowlers having 8 wickets in three matches while Bangladesh leg spinner Rabeya Khan having best figures 4 for 14 against Thailand while Sri Lankan off spinner Kavisha Dilhari having 5 wickets also among the wickets in this series.
The first semi final between India and Bangladesh is at 2pm while Sri Lanka and Pakistan semi final from 7pm at night and hope to get more spectators for the semi finals.
