Image Source- SLC
In Hangzhou, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan on a slow,
sticky surface to get to the Asian Games final. Chasing a modest goal of 76,
Sri Lanka only 17 overs to win the match and advance to Monday’s gold-medal
match against India, who had earlier defeated Bangladesh in a one-sided,
low-scoring match.
In the second semi-final, Sri Lanka decided to field
first, and their bowlers immediately pounced on Pakistan’s hitters. They were
limited to 75 for 9 in 20 overs, with teenage offspinner Kavisha Dilhari and
right-arm medium bowler Udeshika Prabodhani each taking three wickets to lead
the way. To stop Pakistan, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, and Inoka
Ranaweera each took a wicket.
On the other side, Chamari Athapaththu used sweep
strokes to counteract the spinners’ turn as Sri Lanka got off to a respectable
start. She hit two boundaries before making a slog sweep error that caused her
to hole out on 14 off 19 balls. Anushka Sanjeewani, the opener, too lost her
wicket early in the powerplay for a 13-ball 15, but Harshitha Samarawickrama at
one-drop stitched a 35-run partnership with Nilakshi de Silva for the third
wicket in 51 deliveries to save Sri Lanka from losing wickets quickly.
Samarawickrama scored a key knock of 23 off just 41 balls, and de Silva’s
unbroken 18 helped Sri Lanka chase down the mark with 21 balls remaining and
six wickets in hand.
Sadia Iqbal, Daina Baig and Umm-e-Hani were among the
wickets for Pakistan, but it wasn’t enough to stop Sri Lanka from advancing to
the final. They will face Bangladesh for a third-place play-off on Monday.