India and Sri Lanka reach Women's Asia Cup final

Bangladesh’s Salma Khatun’s 90 and Urooj Mumtaz’s all-round performance for Pakistan in vain

Three-time champion India has set up another final showdown with Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup after both the teams won their respective matches in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

India overcame a minor hiccup to beat Bangladesh by five wickets to maintain its unbeaten run in the tournament while Sri Lanka prevailed over Pakistan by 45 runs for its third victory in four matches.

Tuesday’s defeats left Bangladesh and Pakistan fight for the wooden spoon with two league matches remaining. While Bangladesh has won one and lost three, Pakistan is winless from four matches.

Sunday’s final between India and Sri Lanka to will be the third time the two teams will lock horns in the title match. India emerged the winner on both the previous occasions, triumphing by 97 runs in Karachi in January 2006 and again by eight wickets in Jaipur in December 2006. The inaugural event in Sri Lanka in April 2004 was a bilateral best-of-five series as Pakistan did not take part in the tournament.

On Tuesday Pakistan face the home side In Kurunegala, and the Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz put up a good all-round performance, although it was not enough to end’s her team’s 12-match win drought in the history of this tournament.

The 22-year-old wrist spinner grabbed a career-best 4-31 while off-spinner Sajjida Shah, 20, claimed 2-29 as Sri Lanka, electing to bat first, recovered from 118-6 to reach 194-9 in 50 overs.

Eshani Kaushalya (44) and Shashikala Siriwardene (34) were the only notable Sri Lanka run-getters.

Pakistan, in its chase, lost its last seven wickets for 40 runs in 12.3 overs to be bowled out for 149 in 45 overs. The collapse started when Urooj became the fourth batter to be dismissed after scoring 57 from 106 balls including six fours.

For Sri Lanka, fast bowler Eshani Kaushalya followed up her 44 earlier in the day with figures of 8-0-25-3 but her fellow fast bowler Chamari Polgampola finished with the best figures of 10-1-26-4.

In Dambulla, Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun hit a polished 90 against India but still ended up on the losing side. Salma faced 140 balls and struck 20 four but despite that innings Bangladesh could only manage 160-9 in 50 overs after electing to bat first.

But Bangladesh fielders then showed skill to run-out three India batsmen to reduce the defending champion from 55-1 to 86-4.

That soon became 107-5 but at that point Karuna Jain (33 not out) and ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year Jhulan Goswami (23 not out) got involved in a match-winning unbroken 54-run partnership to steer India out of the woods.

Scores in brief:

At Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 45 runsSri Lanka: 194-9 in 50 overs (Eshani Kaushalya 44, Shashikala Siriwardene 34; Urooj Mumtaz 4-31, Sajjida Shah 2-29)
Pakistan: 149 in 45 overs (Urooj Mumtaz 57, Sajjida Shah 27; Chamari Polgampola 4-26, Eshani Kaushalya 3-25)

At Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, India beat Bangladesh by five wickets
Bangladesh: 160-9 in 50 overs (Salma Khatun 90, Panna Ghosh 24; Priyanka Roy 2-18, Thirush Kamini 2-23, Rumeli Dhar 2-31)
India: 161-5 in 41 overs (Karuna Jain 33 not out, Rumeli Dhar 31, Jhulan Goswami 23 not out)

Thursday’s schedule:
Sri Lanka Women v India Women, Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala; Bangladesh Women v Pakistan Women, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium

Points table

Scorecards of the Women’s Asia Cup can be found at: