By Srian Obeyesekere
In a truly ‘We Are the Champions’ stroll Sri Lanka Women anointed themselves Asian Champions thrashing defending champs India by a comprehensive 8 wickets in an expected strong-arm contest that the hosts finally made to look one sided in living up to their new look victory image to the island nation’s maiden title in Asia’s showpiece event last night at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
The Lankan lasses slammed 167 for 2 wickets off 18.4 overs in making light of India’s 165 for 6 off 20 in what proved to be a typical twosome batting fireworks by skipper Chamari Athapaththu 61 off 43 (9×4, 2×6) and one drop Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama undefeated on 69 off 51 hitting 6 boundaries and 2 over the top in shrugging aside the third-ball run out of Vishmi Gunaratne for 1. Both proved cornerstone to the ultimate Lankan trophy euphoria in neck to neck shot making with Samarawickarama apparently getting the Player of the Match nod for her unbeaten consummate knock to carrying the side through from 94 for 2 after the skipper had fallen in the 12th over. By that time Athapaththu had indeed made mince-meat of the Indian attack by her characteristic belligerent batting. That Samarawckrama stood to the end to ensuring victory for the Lankan Women was center piece stroke-play to that historic trophy success in the company of Kavisha Dilhari who smashed 30 off 16 with 2 over the top and a boundary to good effect.
India’s innings largely revolved around opener Smriti Mandhana’s 60 off 47 hitting 10 boundaries that the Lankan bowlers in a concentrated combined effort pushed back by checking the defending champs to going to a commanding total.
CHIEF SCORES:
India Women 165/6 (20 Overs) (Smriti Mandhana 60, Jemimah Rodrigues 29, Richa Ghosh 30, Shafali Verma 16, Harmenpreet Kaur 11, Kavisha Dilhari 2/36, Sachini Nisansala 1/20, Udeshika Prabhodani 1/27, Chamari Athapaththu 1/28)
Sri Lanka Women 167/2 (18.4 Overs) (Chamari Athapaththu 61, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama n.o. 69, Kavisha Dilhari n.o. 30, Deepti Sharma 1/30)
