Sri Lanka team crafted history as they defeated India in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 on July 28, 2024. The match was played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, Sri Lanka.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat first. Smriti Mandhana shouldered the Indian innings with 60 in 47 balls with 10 fours. While Sri Lanka pegged back in middle overs, Jemimah Rodrigues (29 in 16 balls) and Richa Ghosh (30 in 14 balls), propelled India to 165/6 in 20 overs.

In response, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with 61 in 43 balls and added 87 runs for the second wicket with Harshitha Samarawickrama. Though India got a little chance after Chamari got out, but Harshita continued and scored 69* in 51 balls and got support from Kavisha Dilhari (30* in 16 balls).

Indian fielding let them down with dropped catches and sloppiness on the ground as Sri Lanka achieved the target in 18.4 overs with 8 wickets in hand. This was the first time Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup tournament. It was also only the second time India lost in the finals after the 2018 edition.

A distraught India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that there is room for a lot of improvement before the upcoming T20 World Cup and her team won't easily forget this humbling loss.

“We played good cricket throughout the tournament and no doubt, we made a lot of fumbles today and that cost us. It was a decent total, we were looking for breakthroughs in the powerplay but it didn't go according to plan and Sri Lanka batted well. (On looking forward to the upcoming World Cup) We are looking to improve in some areas, we will work hard and remember this day. They have played such good cricket for so much time and they played good cricket throughout this tournament,” she said in the post-match presentation.

Chamari Athapaththu was awarded the Player of the Tournament award.

(PTI inputs)