Dominant India crush Sri-Lanka to win 7th Women’s Asia Cup
(The Quiver): On Saturday, India outplayed Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 championship match, crushing the islanders by 8 wickets in a lopsided game in Sylhet.
India won the 7th Women’s Asia Cup title, demonstrating that their loss to Bangladesh in the 2018 championship game was just a hiccup in their overall success on the continent.
Renuka Singh, a right-arm pacer who devastated the Sri Lankan top-order, helped India win the title. First final in 14 years for Chamari Athapaththu’s team, they got off to a terrible start, losing their captain for 6 as early as the third over to a run-out.
As soon as Sri Lanka lost fellow opener Anushka Sanjeewani to a run-out, panic set in.
At the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka had been reduced to 16 for 5 thanks to Renuka’s 3-wicket performance. At one point, Sri Lanka appeared to be bowled out before reaching 50 runs, but spinner Inoka Ranaweera scored 18 runs off of 22 deliveries to lead Sri Lanka to 65 for 9 after 20 overs.
On a dry surface in Sylhet, Smriti Mandhana stole the show as the vice-captain displayed some incredible stroke-making abilities. Smriti won the game for India with a six after hitting 51 in just 25 balls.
India put up an impressive performance, coming back from their lone loss to Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 to overcome Thailand handily in the semi-final and Sri Lanka with ease in the championship match.
