[Watch] Sri Lankan players storm onto the field as they beat Pakistan in the semi-final of the Women's Asia Cup
The Sri Lankan players erupted into celebration and ran onto the field from the dugout as Anushka Sanjeewani hit the winning run against Pakistan Women in the second semi-final of the Women's Asia Cup T20 2024. The match took place on Friday, July 26, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
In the final over, Sri Lanka needed three runs to win. Pakistan captain Nida Dar took the charge into her hands as she came to bowl the final over. Nida started with a dot and removed Sugandika Kumari on the second ball to alter the course of the match.
The third ball resulted in a dot, while a single came on the fourth. Nida bowled a wide down the leg on the fifth ball as the scores leveled.
Anushka Sanjeewani struck the ball towards long on for a single on the penultimate ball of the match, sending Sri Lanka to the final. The Lanka players were all excited as they came running onto the ground to hug Sanjeewani.
Here’s the video of the winning moment:
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front; she scored 63 runs off 48 balls, hitting nine boundaries and a maximum in her innings. Towards the end, Sanjeewani played a crucial innings, remaining unbeaten on 24 off 22 balls.
Sadia Iqbal was brilliant for Pakistan with figures of 4/16, but it all went in vain as Women in Green crashed out of the tournament.
Sri Lankans took timely wickets in the first innings
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan openers Gull Feroza (25) and Muneeba Ali (37) stitched a 61-run opening partnership in nine overs. However, at the time when Pakistan needed them to accelerate, they both got out in the 10th over to Udeshika Prabodhani.
The Women in Green also lost two important wickets in the 15th over when Kavisha Dilhari dismissed Sidra Ameen (10) and Nida Dar (23). The Sri Lankan bowler struck at crucial points, which prevented the flow of runs as Pakistan finished 140/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, Pakistan showed a great fight, but it wasn’t meant to be, as the hosts qualified for the final.
Sri Lanka will face India in the final of the Women's Asia Cup on Sunday, July 28.