The Women’s Asia Cup 2024 saw commanding victories from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Women on Monday, July 22nd.
Bangladesh Women Crush Thailand in Clinical Display
At Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Bangladesh Women secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Thailand Women. Electing to bat first, Thailand faced a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack.
Despite Nattaya Boochatham’s resilient 40 runs, Bangladesh bowlers, led by the outstanding Rabeya Khan (4/14), restricted Thailand to a paltry 96/9 in their 20 overs.
In response, Bangladesh Women demonstrated their batting strength. Murshida Khatun anchored the chase with a composed 50 off 55 balls, providing a solid foundation at the top.
Quick contributions from Dilara Akter (17) and Ishma Tanjim (16) ensured Bangladesh reached the target in 17.3 overs with seven wickets to spare. Rabeya Khan’s all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Sri Lanka Women Thrash Malaysia Women on Back of Athapaththu’s Ton
At the same venue, Sri Lanka Women achieved a dominant victory over Malaysia Women. Captain Chamari Athapaththu led the charge with a stellar century, guiding Sri Lanka to an imposing 184/4 in 20 overs.
Her explosive 119 runs off 69 balls, featuring 14 boundaries and 7 sixes, dismantled the Malaysian bowling attack. Valuable contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Anushka Sanjeewani further bolstered Sri Lanka’s innings.
Malaysia’s chase faltered under the pressure of the enormous target. The batting lineup crumbled against Sri Lanka’s clinical bowling, managing a mere 40 runs before being bowled out in 19.5 overs.
Shashini Gimhani (3/9) led the attack, while Kawya Kavindi (2/7) and Kavisha Dilhari (2/8) claimed crucial wickets. Elsa Hunter was the only Malaysian batter to reach double digits, underscoring Sri Lanka’s dominance.
Milestone for Athapaththu, Sri Lanka Emerge as Contenders
Chamari Athapaththu’s magnificent century, her third in T20 Internationals, placed her among an elite group of female cricketers to achieve this feat.
Her exceptional leadership and batting brilliance set the tone for Sri Lanka’s comprehensive victory. With this emphatic win, Sri Lanka Women have emerged as strong contenders for the Women’s Asia Cup title, sending a clear message to the other teams in the competition.