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It was a disappointing end for Pakistan in the second semifinal of Women’s Asia Cup at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) on Thursday as Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by one run in a close encounter to enter the finals and play against India on Saturday.
Nida-Dar was run-out while attempting for the second run when Pakistan needed three off the final ball of the match.
Electing to bat first, Chamari Athapaththu was dismissed for ten early in the innings, but opener Anushka Sanjeewani made 26 off 21 balls, which included one four and one six before getting out.
Apart from Anushka’s 26, Harshitha Madavi (35 off 41 balls, one four) and Nilakshi de Silva (14 off 27 balls) added a crucial 50-run partnership when it mattered the most for Sri Lanka.
For Pakistan, left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/17 while right-arm fast bowler Aiman Anwer and spinners Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar took one wicket each.
Chasing 123, Pakistan’s openers started cautiously as Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin shared a 31-run opening partnership before Muneeba got run-out on the first ball of the fourth over. Captain Bismah Maroof joined Sidra to take Pakistan to 46/2 at the end of the powerplay.
The pair added a 16-run partnership for the second wicket, before Sidra was caught at short third man while attempting a reverse sweep off Inoka Ranaweera on the last ball of the seventh over.
Pakistan were in a bit of trouble at 65/3 after the dismissal of Omaima Sohail in the 11th over but the duo of Bismah and Nida added a vital 42-run stand for the fourth wicket. Bismah was solid and looked in control to take her team home before being out for 42 off 41 balls, with four fours.
Sri Lanka got a wonderful opportunity to make a comeback in the match after Bismah’s dismissal and they did pounce on that chance to restrict Pakistan to 121/6, with Nida making a run-a-ball 26 by hitting one four as she failed to finish the chase and take her team to the final of Women’s Asia Cup.
The most successful bowler for Sri Lanka was Inoka Ranaweera who was awarded Player of the match for her figures of 2/17, while Sugandika Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari took one wicket each as Sri Lanka entered the Women’s Asia Cup final after 14 years.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 122/6 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 35, Anushka Sanjeewani 26; Nashra Sandhu 3/17) beat Pakistan 121/6 in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 42, Nida Dar 26; Inoka Ranaweera 2/17) by one run.
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