3 Sri Lankan players who can hurt India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final ft. Chamari Athapaththu
India Women will take on Sri Lanka Women in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final on Sunday, July 28, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Both teams were unbeaten in their respective groups and will be looking to bring their A-game into the final to clinch the silverware.
India defeated Bangladesh in the semi-final. Batting first, the Bangla Tigers only managed 80 runs. It was a cakewalk for Indian openers Smriti Mandhana (55) and Shafali Verma (26) as the Women in Blue won by 10 wickets with nine overs remaining.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka earned a hard-fought victory against Pakistan. Defending a target of 141 runs, Pakistan bowlers showed great fight. However, Sri Lankan batters held their nerves as they chased down the target with one ball remaining.
The hosts will be looking to upset the defending champions in the final on Sunday. The Sri Lankan team has players who can win the game single-handedly.
3 Sri Lankan players who can hurt India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final
#1 Chamari Athapaththu
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu will be the key to her side’s success. She was brilliant in the semi-final against Pakistan, scoring 63 runs off 48 balls, smashing nine boundaries and a maximum. Athapaththu won the Player of the Match award.
The left-handed batter has been in phenomenal form in the tournament, having scored 243 runs in four innings, including a century against Malaysia. The 34-year-old has also picked up two wickets and can pose a threat to the Indian team in the final.
Athapaththu is a dynamic and powerful batter who can turn a game around with her aggressive style. To increase their chances of winning the game, Indian bowlers will need to get her out early.
#2 Kavisha Dilhari
Kavisha Dilhari is the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the 2024 Women's Asia Cup. In the semi-final, she took two important wickets (Sidra Ameen and Nida Dar) to help Sri Lanka restrict Pakistan to a low total.
Overall, the 23-year-old spinner has seven wickets to her name in four games and is the fourth-leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Dilhari has been bowling well and can test the Indian middle-order on Sunday. She has represented Sri Lanka in 59 T20Is and has taken 48 wickets.
#3 Udeshika Prabodhani
Veteran left-arm medium fast bowler Udeshika Prabodhani has four wickets to her name in three games in the Asia Cup 2024. Prabodhani played a crucial role for her team in the semi-final against Pakistan, as she dismissed both in-form openers Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali to shatter the hopes of the Women in Green to post a big total.
She took two wickets and gave up 23 runs in her four-over spell. The 38-year-old has a wealth of experience, having played 100 T20I matches for her country with 78 wickets to her name. Indian batters will need to be careful of Udeshika Prabodhani in the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final.