The Sri Lankan Women’s (SLW) cricket team defeated the 7-time champions Indian Women’s (INDW) team in the Asia Cup 2024 final match played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on 28th July 2024 (Sunday). Chamari Athapaththu successfully led her team to the maiden title victory by 8 wickets against the Women-in-Blue.

Sri Lanka and India as the dominant teams made it to the finals as the unbeaten side of the tournament. However, the Harmanpreet Kaur’s led side wasn’t able to post a challenging total and concluded with a score of 165-6 in 20 overs, despite the vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s blistering half-century and Richa Ghosh’s explosive performance as a finishing batter.

Mainly, the weak bowling performance resulted in the Sri Lankan batters Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama maintaining a consistent partnership during a crucial run chase. But, it was Kavisha Dilhari’s aggressive batting in the death overs that propelled Sri Lanka to a dominant run chase with 8 balls to spare. Also, this is the 2nd defeat for India’s women’s cricket team in Asia Cup tournaments since the inaugural season in 2004.

Let’s delve deeper into the interesting highlights to find out how Sri Lankans emerged as the new Asian champions by achieving a historical win against the mighty Indians. Also, it would be exciting to explore the award winners, prize money, and player’s stats in the 9th edition of the tournament. 

Sri Lanka Women’s Team Performance to Win Asia Cup 2024: SLW vs INDW Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Final Match Highlights

Here is how the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team pulled off an 8-wicket victory against India with a batting and bowling performance:

1. Indian Batters Average Batting Performance: 

The dismissal of the opening batter Shafali Verma (16 runs from 19 balls– including 2 fours) resulted in a fall of wickets at regular intervals.

Smriti Mandhana’s 47-ball-60 runs (including 10 fours) at a strike rate of 127.66 managed to face a tough bowling attack of Sri Lankan bowlers.

Jemimah Rodrigues (29 runs from 16 balls – including 3 fours and 1 six) maintained a 41-run-partnership with Smriti and helped the team to cross the 100-run mark.

The right-handed-wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh’s cameo of 30 runs from 14 balls (including 4 fours and 1 six) helped India reach a total of 165-6 in 20 overs.

2. Sri Lankan Bowlers Decent Bowling Performance:

The right-arm off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari took 2 wickets by conceding just 36 runs in her 4-over spell. Whereas, the medium pacers Udeshika Prabodhani and spinners Sachini Nisansala and

Chamari Athapaththu grabbed each wicket by giving away less than 30 runs.

3. Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama 87-run-partnership:

Team India achieved the wicket of the Sri Lankan opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne (1 run from 3 balls) at an early stage of the 2nd innings. But the success was shortlived as Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 87-run partnership turned out to be the game-changing moment.

Chamari Athapaththu’s 43-ball-61 run knock (including 9 fours and 2 sixes) and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten performance of 51-ball-69 runs (including 6 fours and 5 sixes), left Indian bowlers struggling to grab wickets.

4. Kavisha Dilhari’s Cameo in the Death Overs:

After the Indian all-rounder, Deepti Sharma dismissed Chamari Athapaththu, it was Kavisha Dilhari’s stunning performance that stole the entire show. Her cameo of 16-ball-30 runs (including 1 four and 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 187.50, steered Sri Lanka to achieve the required target with a score of 167-2 in 18.4 overs.

Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Award Winners and Prize Money

Here is the list of award winners and the prize money given during the post-match presentation of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Finals:

Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Stats: Batting and Bowling Performance

It would be interesting to explore the stats of the best performers in terms of batting and bowling throughout the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 tournament:

Batting Stats:

Bowling Stats: