Dubai, 14 Sep (Sports Desk)
-Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana Shine as India Claim Record Eighth Asia Cup Title
India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium on September 13. The victory saw India reclaim the continental title and extend their record to eight Women’s Asia Cup championships.
Match Summary
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| India Women | 183/5 (20 overs) |
| Sri Lanka Women | 111 all out (20 overs) |
| Result | India won by 72 runs |
Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Tournament: Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2026
Player of the Match: Shafali Verma
India Post 183/5 After Explosive Opening Partnership
After winning the toss and batting first, India got off to a flying start thanks to openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.
The duo put together a spectacular 129-run opening partnership, putting Sri Lanka under pressure from the beginning. Shafali Verma played an aggressive innings of 68 runs off 39 balls, while Smriti Mandhana contributed a classy 59 off 39 deliveries.
Shafali’s innings included powerful boundary hitting and saw her create a tournament record by completing the fastest half-century in Women’s Asia Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 24 balls.
India eventually finished with a commanding total of 183 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs.
India’s Top Batters
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | 68 | 39 |
| Smriti Mandhana | 59 | 39 |
| G. Kamalini | 15* | 5 |
Shafali and Mandhana’s opening stand laid the foundation for India’s imposing total.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Falls Short
Chasing 184 runs for victory, Sri Lanka struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack.
The Indian spinners took control of the innings, regularly picking up wickets and preventing Sri Lanka from building partnerships. Captain Chamari Athapaththu fought hard with 36 runs off 32 balls, while Nilakshika Silva scored 22 runs off 16 deliveries.
However, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup could not withstand India’s bowling pressure and was bowled out for just 111 runs in 20 overs.
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Sri Lanka’s Top Scorers
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Chamari Athapaththu | 36 |
| Nilakshika Silva | 22 |
Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma Lead India’s Bowling Attack
India’s bowling performance was equally impressive.
Left-arm spinner Shree Charani delivered a match-winning spell, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs. Deepti Sharma also made a major contribution with 3 wickets for 19 runs, breaking Sri Lanka’s resistance during the chase.
India’s Best Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shree Charani | 4 | 20 | 4 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 19 | 3 |
The combined effort of India’s spinners ensured Sri Lanka never came close to the required target.
India Reclaim the Women’s Asia Cup Title
The victory marks India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, further strengthening their dominance in women’s cricket in Asia.
India had entered the final unbeaten and were looking to regain the trophy after losing the previous edition’s final to Sri Lanka in 2024. The comprehensive 72-run victory completed a memorable campaign for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team.
Final Highlights
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs.
- India scored 183/5 in 20 overs.
- Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111.
- Shafali Verma scored 68 runs off 39 balls.
- Smriti Mandhana scored 59 runs off 39 balls.
- Shafali and Mandhana shared a 129-run opening partnership.
- Shree Charani took four wickets.
- Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets.
- Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match.
- India won their record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
