On Sunday, September 13, India Women asserted their total dominance in the region by clinching their fourth Women’s T20 Asia Cup championship. This emphatic triumph was built on a spectacular opening partnership followed by a relentless bowling performance that dismantled the Sri Lankan challenge. Ultimately, the tournament’s standout team sealed a 72-run win to reclaim their crown in style.
Verma and Mandhana Dominate Early On
Shafali Verma led the charge from the outset, starting her innings with precision before unleashing her signature power. She collected early boundaries off Mithali Ayodhya by cleverly steering the ball past gully and dispatching another delivery toward the midwicket boundary. She then targeted Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, striking two massive sixes in the space of four balls to establish momentum. Verma did not relent, later dispatching Chamudi Praboda for successive boundaries when the bowler erred in length.
This aggressive display allowed Verma to register the fastest half-century in the history of the T20 Asia Cup, reaching the milestone in just 24 deliveries. Her opening partner, Smriti Mandhana, was content to play a supporting role initially. Despite launching her innings with a boundary off her very first ball, Mandhana focused on finding gaps for singles and doubles while Verma took risks at the other end. Together, the pair notched their sixth century partnership, equaling the global record for the most hundred-run stands for any wicket in women’s T20 internationals. By the 12th over, India had surged to 120 without loss, leaving Sri Lanka searching for answers.
Sri Lanka Fights Back to Stall the Innings
Sri Lanka finally earned a breakthrough in the 13th over when Verma was dismissed for a blistering 68. Shortly after, a severe miscommunication between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Mandhana resulted in the latter being run out for 59. The double blow halted India’s rapid scoring rate as successive middle-order batters fell while attempting to maintain the tempo. Nonetheless, a late tactical substitution paid off when G Kamalini, playing instead of Pratika Rawal, launched a six off the final delivery of the innings. This contribution pushed India’s final total to an imposing 183 for 5 from their allotted 20 overs.
The Chase Crumbles Against Spin
Chasing a target of 184 was always going to be an uphill battle, especially since a target above 150 had only been successfully chased once before in tournament history—when Sri Lanka defeated India in the 2024 final. This time, the chase faltered almost immediately. Just four balls into the innings, Imesha Dulani attempted a lap shot but was clean-bowled by an energetic Kranti Gaud, who celebrated the breakthrough with intensity. Although Athapaththu fought back momentarily by slog-sweeping Verma for six during an expensive over, and later taking 11 runs off Prema Rawat, the resistance did not last long.
The turning point arrived in the second over bowled by Deepti Sharma. Athapaththu, who had scored 36, advanced down the track only to be stumped, giving India complete control of the match. Just three deliveries later, Sharma bowled Vishmi Gunaratne to leave the Sri Lankan chase in tatters. Spinner Shree Charani then ripped through the remaining batting lineup with a brilliant spell. She claimed four wickets for 20 runs, ensuring Sri Lanka’s hopes were completely extinguished. Nilakshika Silva managed 22, but she was the only other batter to reach double figures as Sri Lanka collapsed to 111 all out.
Historical Significance of the Margin
The crushing 72-run margin represents the second-largest victory margin recorded in the final of a women’s T20 international tournament featuring five or more teams. The only larger margin remains Australia’s 85-run triumph against India during the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020.
With this performance, India capped a brilliant campaign, proving their class on the grand stage and re-establishing themselves as the undisputed queens of Asian cricket. The report also notes that comfortably the best team of the tournament, India extended their supremacy at the event with a thumping 72-run win, the base for which was set by their openers in the first hour.
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