Chamari guides Lankan Women to Asian Games Cricket final
Sri Lanka Vs India Final tomorrow
Indian opener Shafali Verma celebrating her maiden ton Indian opener Shafali Verma celebrating her maiden ton
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu once again came to the fore scoring sparkling unbeaten knock of 83 in 50 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes to guide Sri Lanka into the T-20 final of the Asian Games when they beat Pakistan women by 8 wickets with 13 balls to spare in their semi final played in Nisshin, Japan yesterday.
Sri Lankan lasses chasing a target of 178, openers Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani made a good start scoring 36 in 4.4 overs before Imesha was first to out making a brisk knock of 27 in 21 balls with 5 fours. Hasini Perera joined skipper and the pair built up the innings making their chase easy. Athapaththu started slowly but smashed 20 runs in the 10th over with 2 sixes and 2 fours against Momina Riasat, which was the turning point of the game. Hasini Perera played a good supporting role scoring 26 ball 42 with 3 fours and 3 sixes and the pair added 95 runs second wicket stand followed by a 47runs unbroken third wicket stand between Harshitha Samarawickrama (12 ball 17 with 2 fours) and Athapaththu which guided Sri Lanka to their target in 17.5 over and enter the final.
Earlier Pakistan invited to bat first scored 177 for 4 wickets in 20 overs. Shawaal Zulfiqar (54 in 50 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes) and Ayesha Zafar (40 ball 71 with 9 fours and 2 sixes) added superb 115 runs second wicket stand but it went in vain as Sri Lanka won the match equalling their highest total in a successful chase.
Shafali’s ton steers India to final
Meanwhile defending champions India made an easy 114 runs win over Bangladesh in their semi final to enter the final in their one sided semi final affair played at the same venue.
India decided to bat first scored 195 for 4 wickets with opener Shafali Verma leading the way with her maiden century (100) not out in 49 balls with 3 fours and 9 sixes well supported by Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33 ball 40 with 6 fours).
Bangladesh chasing a target of 196 were skittled out for 81 in 15.4 overs. The fast bowler Nandani Sharma (3 for 25) and off spinner Deepti Sharma (3 for 7) bowled well for wining India team.
Sri Lanka- India final tomorrow
Once again Sri Lanka will meet India in the final while Pakistan will meet Bangladesh in the playoff game for the bronze medal and both matches will be played tomorrow at the same venue, Nisshin.
Chief scores
Sri Lanka women beat Pakistan women by 8 wickets: Pakistan women 177 for 4 wickets in 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 54,Saira Jabeen 17, Ayesha Zafar 71, Fatima Sana 20*, Sugandika Kumari 1/31, Chamari Athapaththu 1/30, Kawya Kavindi 1/13)
Sri Lanka women 178 for 2 wickets in 17.5 overs (Imesha Dulani 27, Chamari Athapaththu 83*, Hasini Perera 42, Harshitha Samarawickrama 17*, Fatima Sana 1/24, Nashra Sandhu 1/38)
India women beat Bangladesh women by 114 runs: India women 195 for 4 wickets in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 37, Shafali Verma 100*, Harmanpreet Kaur 40)
Bangladesh women 81 all out in 15.4 overs (Dilara Akter 27, Sharmin Khatun 10, Sultana Kahtun 12*, Nandani Sharma 3/25, Deepti Sharma 3/ 7)
Schedule:
Final for gold medal: Sri Lanka women Vs India women’s 10.30 am (Sri Lanka time)
Third place game: Pakistan women Vs Bangladesh women