India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, taking the trophy Sri Lanka had held since 2024. It is India’s eighth Asia Cup title.

Sri Lanka, chasing 184, were bowled out for 111 off the last ball of the innings.

India 183 for 5

India won the toss, batted, and were taken out of Sri Lanka’s reach by their opening pair. Shafali Verma made 68 off 39 with nine fours and two sixes, and Smriti Mandhana 59 off 39 with five fours and three sixes. Their stand was worth 129 runs in 12.5 overs — by some distance the decisive passage of the match. Ada Derana reported that Verma’s fifty came off 24 balls, the fastest in the tournament’s history.

Sri Lanka pulled things back once the opening stand broke. Chamudi Praboda had Verma caught by Chamari Athapaththu, Mandhana was run out by Kavisha Dilhari and wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana, and Mithali Ayodhya removed captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 14. Athapaththu dismissed Richa Ghosh. India lost 5 for 54 after the opening partnership but finished at 183 for 5, with Gunalan Kamalini hitting 15 not out from five balls.

Sri Lanka 111 all out

The chase never recovered from a sharp start and a collapse in the middle overs. Imesha Dulani went for 4 in the first over. Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne rebuilt to 62 before Athapaththu was stumped for 36 off 32, and Gunaratne was bowled three balls later for 20.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani then broke the innings open, taking 4 for 20 from her four overs — including Harshitha Samarawickrama caught and bowled, Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with 22 off 16. Deepti Sharma took three wickets and Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for 25 runs.

Sri Lanka had reached the final unbeaten, beating Pakistan by four wickets in the semi-final after slipping to 33 for four.

Sources