Sri Lanka chased 178, their highest score in successful chases, for the second time against Pakistan, and this time did so by booking a final berth in the Asian Games. Pakistan had hardly made any mistakes, but the Chamari Athapaththu juggernaut was too good for them to contain. This was the second time Sri Lanka downed Pakistan in a semi-final in a month, having already swept past them in the Asia Cup semi-final last week.
Sri Lanka reach Asian Games final
Sending in Pakistan to bat first, after a delayed start to the game, Sri Lanka were able to send Gull Feroza packing on the first legal delivery of the innings. This was shortly followed by a run-out chance at Shawaal Zulfiqar’s end, who ended with a 50-ball 54.
Saira Jabeen, batting alongside Shawaal, changed gears and cleared gaps magnificently, but her stay was cut short as Athapaththu got Jabeen misjudging the delivery and getting caught near the boundary.
In came Ayesha Zafar, who took her time to settle, but Harshitha Samarawickrama dropping Shawaal’s catch in the ninth over arose something in her. Zafar, who was batting at 12 off 13 balls at that point, reached her fifty within the next 14 balls as she struck seven fours and a six in the next three overs. The brunt of her wrath was borne by Kavisha Dilhari, who was sent for 35 runs in two overs.
Shawaal and Ayesha had stitched together a 115-run stand off just 70 balls before the two batters had a somewhat mix-up while running a single. Ayesha lost her momentum and was cut short off the crease with Chamudi Praboda hitting the stumps. Shawaal couldn’t last long after her, leaving the task of closing the innings for captain Fatima Sana. Fatima struck a 12-ball 20 as the 20 overs came to a close.
Athapaththu takes control of Sri Lanka’s chase
The last time Sri Lanka were set a 178-run target by Pakistan, Imesha Dulani hit a century to take her side over the line. However, it was she who fell first this time, but not before setting the momentum for her side. Dulani scored 27 off 21 balls, including four fours, and helped Sri Lanka stay afloat, even as her fellow batter and captain Athapaththu had some difficulty getting started.
After Dulani’s departure, however, Athapaththu changed her gears and struck 20 runs in the eighth over off Momina Riasat. This was the beginning of a 95-run partnership between her and Hasini Perera, both of whom took turns in punishing Pakistan bowlers. They not only stayed on the crease for most of the chase, but also scored at more than a 160 strike rate each.
By the time Nashra Sandhu got Perera, Sri Lanka were just 47 runs behind with 36 balls to spare. Those 47 runs came fairly quickly as Athapaththu went full throttle, going from 56 off 39 to 83 off 50 balls. Harshitha Samarawickrama followed her captain’s suit, and the team gunned down the target with 13 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka completed the chase to reach the Asian Games final, with Athapaththu finishing unbeaten on 83.
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