The much-awaited final of the Women’s Asia Cup got underway on Saturday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet. Both India and Sri Lanka were eager to give their best in the game and win the coveted title. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and elected to put runs on the board in the all-important final.
Sri Lankan openers captain Chamari Athapaththu and Anushka Sanjeewani walked out to the middle to give their team a blazing start in the mega final. The decision to bat first turned out to be a nightmare as India struck early with the run out of captain Athapaththu. Renuka Singh quickly got into the act dismissing Harshitha Madavi making Sri Lanka were left reeling at 9/2.
Sri Lanka brought all the trouble upon themselves by getting involved in another run out which sent wicket-keeper Anushka Sanjeewani back to the pavilion. With Sri Lanka digging their own grave, Renuka Singh continued her brilliant spell scalping Hasini Perera leaving Sri Lanka in all sorts of trouble at 9/4.
India complete the chase in 8.3 overs
Batters kept coming in and going out as wickets fell like a pack of cards. After Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Sneh Rana got into the act and picked up two wickets each further piling the agony on Sri Lanka. Despite being 25/7 in 8.3 overs, Sri Lanka managed to play the entire 20 overs of their innings and ended up with a score of 65/9.
The Indian openers came out with a clear intent of chasing down the target as quickly as possible. Smriti Mandhana came out all guns blazing as she wreaked havoc on Sri Lanka who were still pondering their batting failure. Mandhana sent the ball to all parts of the ground taking India closer to another Asia Cup title with every shot. Sri Lanka found some success dismissing Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues in the third and fourth overs.
But Mandhana made sure there were hiccups in the chase. The Southpaw smashed a four and a six on consecutive deliveries and took India home in just 8.3 overs. She also brought up her half-century in just 25 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes. Courtesy of Mandhana’s incredible knock India clinched their seventh Asia Cup Title. Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s comprehensive win:
Congratulations ?? What an impressive display! Well done girls ?? #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/lkGuCUwQdq
— Brajkishor Pandey?? (@brajkishor_16) October 15, 2022
Congratulations to women’s ?? #AsiaCup #INDvSL
— ????? ????? ? (@ChhoteJani24) October 15, 2022
Women's Asia Cup Final. India Women Won by 8 Wickets #INDvSL #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2022
— Ragadi (@RagadiYT) October 15, 2022
For the 7th time. The Champions of Asia. ??
CHAMP7ONS….!!#AsiaCup2022 #INDvSL #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/tqTcfJMkfP— NaveenTuitorial Youtube channel (@NaveenG77168184) October 15, 2022
ESPNcricinfo: SEVEN OUT OF EIGHT TROPHIES ?
Mandhana wins it with a six – India are crowned Asia Cup champions once again ?
A dominant, assured and classy performance in the final!#INDvSL | #AsiaCup2022
— Omar Eziz Khan (@omareziz) October 15, 2022
Smriti Mandhana scores 51 runs off 25 balls on the rank turner ,this shows her class .
One of the greatest of all time @mandhana_smriti #SmritiMandhana#INDvSL— Samosa (@Samosa82401170) October 15, 2022
? ?????????! We lift the Women's Asia Cup for the seventh time. This is the third time in the T20I format.
? Pics belong to the respective owners • #INDvSL #INDWvSLW #WomensAsiaCup #AsiaCup2022 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/ha2NKNuj83
— ???? ????? (@mayankC00265952) October 15, 2022
Well deserved Champions of #Asia?? What a comprehensive win for our #WomeninBlue ??#INDvSL #AsiaCup2022Final #AsiaCup2022
— BaniiM (@Banii_97) October 15, 2022
Unassailable Indian women @BCCIWomen …
Invincible in Asia cup tournament!
Another feather in their caps, after their seamless win against England in England.#AsiaCup2022Final #asia #asiacup #INDvSLW #INDvSL #SLvsInd #SLvINDw #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/e2BDtxSOcv— Vas (@Vasanth1212) October 15, 2022
Congratulations #WomenInBlue. You played like a champ through out. #INDvSL
— Borriek (@Borriek1) October 15, 2022
There has been 8 Women’s Asia Cup and India Women have won 7 of them. Incredible from our girls. ?
If this is not domination then what is!
#INDvSL#AsiaCupWomen pic.twitter.com/gXBJOC5ho6
— Avinash (@imavinashvk) October 15, 2022
