Sri Lanka Advances to Women's T20 Asia Cup Final After Thrilling Win Over Pakistan

In a thrilling semi-final, Sri Lanka overcame a shaky start to defeat Pakistan by four wickets, securing their place in the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 final against India. Key contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari turned the match around after early setbacks. Despite a strong performance from Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana, who scored 47 runs and took four wickets, Sri Lanka's lower order held their nerve to clinch victory. This marks Sri Lanka's second consecutive final appearance, setting the stage for an exciting clash with the unbeaten Indian team.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 12, 2026, 10:57 IST

Sri Lanka Secures Final Spot

In a gripping encounter, defending champions Sri Lanka triumphed over Pakistan by four wickets, securing their place in the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 final. They will face the unbeaten Indian team on Sunday.

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 131, faced early challenges, slipping to 5/2 and then 33/4. However, a vital partnership of 67 runs between Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari turned the game around, as reported by Cricinfo.

Key Performances in the Match

Samarawickrama contributed 36 runs off 31 balls, while Dilhari added 33 runs off 33 balls, helping Sri Lanka recover from their initial setbacks. Despite their efforts, Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana made a significant impact, taking 4 wickets for 36 runs and scoring 47 runs off 36 balls, leading her team to a total of 130/5 after a shaky start.

Sana's innings included several boundaries and a six, providing Pakistan with a competitive score after early wickets fell to Sri Lanka's spinners. Chamari Athapaththu claimed two wickets in her first two overs, and Sugandika Kumari dismissed Muneeba Ali, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 52/4.

Samarawickrama and Dilhari's Partnership

Despite losing two top-order batters early, Samarawickrama and Dilhari steadied the innings with their partnership. Their calculated approach and aggressive running helped Sri Lanka inch closer to the target.

Although Sana returned to dismiss both batters, Sri Lanka's lower order remained composed. Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana played crucial roles, with Nuthyangana hitting a six to bring the target down to five runs from 11 balls. The winning runs were scored with eight balls to spare, as Nilakshika hit the decisive boundary off Sana.

Looking Ahead

This victory marks Sri Lanka's second consecutive appearance in the Women's T20 Asia Cup final, setting up a clash against India, who previously defeated Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final. India remains unbeaten in the tournament and has already bested Sri Lanka in the league stage. However, the defending champions will enter the final with renewed confidence after overcoming a challenging match against Pakistan. Despite the loss, Sana's outstanding performance, both with the bat and ball, earned her the Player of the Match title.