- Beat Pakistan by four wickets in semi-finals
Defending champions Sri Lanka reached their seventh Women’s Asia Cup final when they beat Pakistan by four wickets with eight balls to spare in a closely contested second semi-final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Sri Lanka will meet seven-times champions India in the final on Sunday.
Set a target of 131 Sri Lanka stumbled to 33-4 with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana leading the way with a double wicket first over. A 67-run stand for the fifth wicket between Harshitha Samarawickrama (36) and Imesha Dulani (33) brought Sri Lanka back into contention.
But Sana had not finished yet for when she came for a second spell she once again struck twice to send back both set batters. However the experienced Nilakshika Silva (18*) and Kaushini Nuthyangana (10*) kept cool heads to see Sri Lanka over the line.
Sana led Pakistan from the front and guided her team to 130 after being invited to bat first. Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali early, but Shawaal Zulfiqar and Gull Feroza then chipped in with scores in the 20s. Pakistan were 92-5 at the end of 16 overs when Tuba Hassan joined Sana, and the duo put on an all-important unbeaten 38-run stand off just 24 deliveries. Sana scored 47 off 36 balls and made sure Pakistan touched the 130-run mark. She took the Player of the Match award for her superb all-round contribution.
Scores:
Pakistan Women 130-5 (20) (Shawaal Zulfiqar 24, Gull Feroza 21, Fatima Sana 47*, Chamari Athapaththu 2/24, Chamudi Praboda 2/25) lost to Sri Lanka Women 134-6 (18.4) (Imesh Dulani 24, Harshitha Samarawickrama 36, Kavisha Dilhari 33, Fatima Sana 4/38)
