In a heart-stopping encounter that had the entire cricketing world on the edge of their seats, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a captain’s knock to steer her team to a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup.
Chasing a challenging target of 141, Sri Lanka were in trouble early on, losing quick wickets and finding themselves in a precarious position. However, Athapaththu stood tall amidst the crumbling batting order, playing a measured and calculated innings. Her ability to rotate strike and find the boundaries at crucial junctures kept Sri Lanka in the hunt.
A crucial slog sweep over deep midwicket by Athapaththu brought the equation down to 28 from 26, putting Sri Lanka firmly in the driver’s seat. With the target in sight, the captain continued to play with composure, but a lapse in concentration led to her dismissal, leaving Sri Lanka with their task cut out.
Pakistan fought back valiantly, but Sugandika Kumari held her nerve to hit a couple of crucial boundaries in the penultimate over, bringing the equation down to three runs from the final over. With the entire stadium on its feet, Sri Lanka managed to clinch the match with just one ball to spare, setting up a final clash against India.
Athapaththu’s innings was a masterclass in captaincy and batting, and her performance was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s progression to the final. With the momentum on their side, they will be looking to cause a major upset against the tournament favorites.
