Cricket fever is at its peak as the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 draws closer to its championship match. High stakes were involved as hosts Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) faced Pakistan Women (PAK-W) in the second semifinal of the intercontinental event on Friday. The winner of this match would advance to the final.
Interestingly, the hosts elected to go onto the pitch first after winning the toss. Gul Feroza and Muneeba Ali, the Green Shirts’ openers, set the tone with a strong 61-run partnership for the first wicket, and in the tenth over, Udeshika Prabodhani handed the Lankan Lionesses a much-needed breakthrough. The visitors completed with a respectable score of 140/4 in their 20 overs quota after captain Nida Dar assumed responsibility for steadiing the ship and Fatima Sana added the finishing touches.
In the semifinal match, Kavisha Dilhari’s bowling proved to be another noteworthy effort for Sri Lanka, in addition to Prabodhani. In their respective spells, both players grabbed two wickets.
Sri Lanka Women’s reply had a disastrous start to the run chase as they lost two wickets in the first four overs. Samarawickarama and opener Gunaratne both failed to register any points. Chamari Athapaththu, on the other hand, carried on with her batting prowess in the titanic match, scoring an incredible half-century (63 off 48 balls) before succumbing to Sadia Iqbal. With a score of 78, Pakistan Women maintained their pressure and took two wickets in succession. However, a Captain’s hit made sure the Lionesses were only 20 runs short of the total.
Also Read: Harmanpreet Kaur struggles to recollect playing XI at toss before of semi-final showdown with Bangladesh
To set up the top match against India Women, Anushka Sanjeewani persevered through to the very end thanks to her crucial undefeated cameo. Interestingly, the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final is scheduled for Sunday, July 28, at Dambulla.
Meanwhile, here’s how the fans reacted to the 2nd Semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024:
A Good Match at last in Women’s Asia Cup #SLWvPAKW #SL #PAK #AsiaCup
— dinesh shiv (@dineshshiv4) July 26, 2024
What an effin’ close match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan!!
SL batters held nerves and how!
So it’s India v Srilanka in the final#SLvPak #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2024 #SLWvPAKW #semifinal
— Priya Saini (@cricbuff_priya) July 26, 2024
Congrats
srilanka
Srilanka woman won by 3 wickets #SLWvPAKW pic.twitter.com/8z5ji1VXSe
— Moye Moye (@SaeedKhan44) July 26, 2024
What a run chase by the ladies!
One more hurdle to cross! #SLWvPAKW #WomensAsiaCup2024
— Rukhshan (@rukhshan) July 26, 2024
ANOTHER HEART BREAK FOR PAKISTAN AT HANDS OF SRI LANKA IN SEMI FINALS OF #WomensAsiaCup #SLWvPAKW #BackOurGirls #WomensAsiaCup2024 ||ARD
— All Rounder’s Den (ARD) (@AllRoundersDen) July 26, 2024
Too many extras, too many loose deliveries from finger spinners* choked like men. #SLWvPAKW
— 𝒟𝑒𝓍𝓉𝑒𝓇 (@_Dexterr) July 26, 2024
Lankan women with umpires won the game but in finals Lankan women keen down to Indian women easy #SLWvPAKW
— Jolly (@tradetowin100) July 26, 2024
Well done ladies and skipper @CoolNidadar
Another heartbreak!
Super proud of you. #SLWvPAKW— Mukhtiar Ali (@MokhtiarAli) July 26, 2024
Phew…. What a nail biter!!! Hard luck for Women in green.
Congratulations @cricketsrilanka. Well played @CoolNidadar and Co.#slwvpakw #WomensAsiaCup— Rai M. Azlan (@Mussanaf) July 26, 2024
Hope they will be able to pull this off
— Jalaad
A strong finish sees Pakistan post 140-4 in their 20 overs
Over to the bowlers after the break
#SLWvPAKW | #WomensAsiaCup2024 | #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/8E0zy8Qxpk
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 26, 2024
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