Dubai: India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the T20 Asia Cup final here on Sunday to lift the title. India have now won a total of eight Asian titles across the ODI and T20 formats.
After India set a target of 184, Sri Lanka lost their 10th and final wicket on the last ball of their innings at 111. India dominated Sri Lanka in a battle of spin attacks. Indian spinner Sree Charani was the most successful bowler, claiming 4-20 in her four overs. Fellow spinner Deepti Sharma took three wickets for 19 runs. However, Indian fielders dropped around five catches. Kranti Gaud, Shafali Verma and Prema Rawat picked up one wicket apiece.
Shafali-Smiriti Put on 129-Run Opening Partnership
India scored 183 for five in their 20 overs. Shafali Verma smashed 68 off 39 balls, with two sixes and nine fours, while Smriti Mandhana scored 59 off 39 balls, including three sixes and five fours. The pair put together a 129-run opening partnership.
Smriti was run out for the third time in this tournament. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 14 and shared a 28-run partnership with Richa Ghosh, who made 17. However, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. In the end, G. Kamalini remained unbeaten on 15 off five balls, hitting a six and a four, to take India to a respectable total of 183.
A report that BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla had travelled to Dubai had gone viral even before the result of the final. Many feared that the presence of Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi of Pakistan at the stadium could trigger a controversy.
ALSO READ: India Make Winning Start as ‘Vande Mataram’ Proves Auspicious