In Dubai yesterday, India put on a masterclass in the women’s T20 Asia Cup final to bulldoze past Sri Lanka by 72 runs and bag their eighth Asia Cup title and fourth T20 crown.

Harmanpreet Kaur opted for bat after winning the toss and got off to a dream start for India. Then Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana completed an explosive start as they made 129 runs for the first wicket, the highest for any wicket in Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Shafali was at her most brutal, bringing up a half-century from just 24 balls (the quickest-ever fifty in T20 history of the tournament). She eventually made 68 runs. Mandhana started conservatively but then took off, reaching her fifty in 36 balls before being trapped leg before by Tamzin Newell for 59.

Having looked set to score 200, Sri Lanka recovered superbly in the middle and death overs. Chamudi Praboda had Shafali caught, and a mixup with Harmanpreet saw Mandhana run out. Richa Ghosh (15) added further down the order as wickets tumbled towards the end of the innings. A finishing touch on a useful cameo from G Kamalini, who hit a four and a six in the last over helped India post 183 for 5.

Sri Lanka’s chase began poorly. Imesha Dulani discovered the boundary quickly but was bowled while trying to play another expansive shot. Vishmi Gunaratne, having limped off the field earlier, came out to bat but India’s bowlers maintained a chokehold.

There was some resistance provided by Chamari Athapaththu with 36 – including a scrapbook worth of attacking strokes – but Deepti Sharma soon had the better of her Sri Lankan captain, with a turning delivery that outfoxed Athapaththu to leave her stranded out of her crease. Deepti followed that up by sending Gunaratne back in the same over, and Sri Lanka were now in deep trouble at 63 for 4.

From there on, India’s spin attack took total charge. N Shree Charani picked up 4 wickets conceding just 20 runs, while Deepti claimed three wickets for 19. Thus, their seven wickets didn’t allow Sri Lanka to form any significant partnerships.

While Sri Lanka could not capitalise on five dropped catches by India during the innings. They were ultimately dismissed for 111 on the last ball, handing India an emphatic 72 run win.

The victory also enhanced India’s supremacy in the Asia Cup finals against Sri Lanka, making it 6-1 for India in head-to-head records. With the bat, Shafali and Mandhana laid the groundwork for a successful total, while Charani and Deepti packaged it off with the ball to seal another delightful Asia Cup victory for India.

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