Harmanpreet’s India takes revenge for 2024 final defeat, beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift eighth Women’s Asia Cup title | cricket news

India Women are once again on top in Asia. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team produced a commanding all-round performance to beat Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final of the 2026 Women’s T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, regaining the continental crown and avenging their defeat in the 2024 final.After opting to bat first, India posted a commanding 183/5 in 20 overs, boosted by a sensational opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The Indian bowlers then completed the job in emphatic fashion, bowling out Sri Lanka for 111 to seal a complete victory.The victory gives India a record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and underlines their dominance in the continental tournament.

Shafali and Smriti form India’s dominant total

India’s innings was built around a devastating opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.Shafali hit 68 off just 39 balls, nine fours and two sixes, while Mandhana contributed fluent 59 off 39 deliveries. Together, they added 129 runs for the first wicket, putting Sri Lanka under immense pressure from the start.Their aggressive batting gave India the perfect platform before the Sri Lankan bowlers counterattacked with wickets in the middle. Gunalan Kamalini, however, provided the finishing touch with a quickfire 15 not out off just five balls, including a huge six off the final delivery, taking India to 183/5.

Sri Lanka stays alive before collapse

Sri Lanka’s chase did not start smoothly as they lost an early wicket but Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne briefly revived their hopes with a battling 58-run partnership. Athapaththu looked to take the attack to the Indian bowlers, while Gunaratne provided valuable support. However, with the required run rate increasing rapidly, both batsmen were forced to take greater risks.The breakthrough came at a crucial stage when Athapaththu was dismissed for 36 before Gunaratne followed up for 20 in the same over. His two dismissals effectively broke Sri Lanka’s resistance and tilted the final decisively towards India.

India’s indirect attack dismantles Sri Lanka

Once the partnership was broken, Sri Lanka’s middle order simply could not withstand India’s relentless attack. The visitors fell from 63/3 to 103/7 as wickets fell in quick succession. India continued to attack the stumps and denied Sri Lanka any chance to rebuild the innings.Shree Charani was the star with the ball, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/20 in his four overs. His spell proved decisive as India continued to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen.Deepti Sharma also played a key role in the bowling effort, adding two crucial wickets to her already impressive tally for the tournament. He entered the final among the competition’s leading wicket-takers, with 11 wickets in four matches.Sri Lanka were finally bowled out for 111 on the last ball of their innings, falling 72 runs short of India’s imposing target.