India overcome shaky start to beat SL in Final

By Amindha de Alwis

India Emerging Women recovered from a difficult start to beat hosts Sri Lanka by 14 runs on the DLS method in the Final of the inaugural ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Kavisha Dilhari (3/27), had reduced India to a precarious 90 for 7 after the visitors’ decision to bat first appeared to have backfired.

However, India were able to recover on the back of lower-order contributions by Tanusree Sarkar (47), Simran Bahadur (34) and Manali Dakshini (18 n.o.), who ensured a competitive total of 175 for their bowlers to defend.

A sharp shower in the afternoon resulted in Sri Lanka being set a revised target of 150 in 35 overs. The chase began poorly with 5 wickets falling within the first 14 overs.

Sri Lanka Captain Harshitha Madavi, continued her good form in the tournament as she stitched together a 48-run partnership with Lihini Apsara before both players fell in quick succession to the spin bowling of India Skipper Devika Vaidya.

The fall of Madavi, who had recorded half-centuries in each of the previous two games, left India on the cusp of victory and they were able to dismiss the hosts for 135 a few overs later despite a few late boundaries by Madushika Lakmali.

Match Scores

India Emerging Women 175 for 9 in 50 overs (Tanusree Sarkar 47, Simran Bahadur 34, Kavisha Dilhari 3/27, Sachini Nissansala 2/26)

Sri Lanka Emerging Women 135 all out in 34.3 overs (Revised Target 150 in 35 overs) (Harshitha Madavi 39, Madushika Lakmali 25, Lihini Apsara 22, Tanuja Kanwar 4/15, Devika Vaidya 4/29)