SYLHET: Indian bowlers decimated the Sri Lankan batting lineup by restricting them to a paltry total before Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant half-century in the run chase and powered her side to a seventh Women’s Asia Cup title.
The final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 remained a one-sided affair for India as the side sealed a comprehensive eight-wicket victory with 69 balls to spare, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Smriti Mandhana.
Set to chase a skimpy 66 in the final, the opening pair of Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave their side a flying start as they amassed 32 runs in the fourth over.
Mandhana was the aggressor in the opening stand, while Verma was finding it hard to score freely and fell prey to Inoka Ranaweera after scoring a mere five.
India lost another wicket in the next over as Jemimah Rodrigues departed to the dressing room after scoring just two.
Mandhana then joined hands with Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and put on a match-winning 36-run partnership to propel her side to glory.
The opening batter top-scored for the side as she accumulated 51 off 25 deliveries, laced with six boundaries and three sixes.
Kaur, on the other hand, scored a sensible 11* off 14.
For Sri Lanka, only Kavisha Dilhari and Ranaweera could pick up a wicket each.
Batting first, the Sri Lankan batting lineup failed completely and could only accumulate 65/9 in their quota of 20 overs.
Lower-order batter Ranaweera resisted a bit against a strong Indian bowling attack and remained unbeaten with 18, while Oshadi Ranasinghe could score 13.
The rest of the Sri Lankan batters could not enter into the double figures.
Renuka Singh led the bowling attack for India as she returned with astounding figures of 3/5, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Sneh Rana bagged two wickets each.
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