India storm into final of Women’s T20 Asia Cup

Sports Reporter :
India Women’s Cricket team stormed into the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup defeating Thailand Women’s Cricket team by 74 runs in the first semi-final at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Sent into bat first, India piled up a satisfactory total of 148 for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Thailand to 74 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.
Opener Shafali Verma hit a sparkle 42. Her 28-ball innings was laced with five fours and one six. She was adjudged the Player of the Match for her outstanding batting display.
Harmanpreet Kaur played a captain’s knock of 36. Her 30-ball knock was decorated with four fours.
Jemimah Rodrigues made 27 from 26 balls featuring three fours.
Sornnarin Tippoch grabbed three wickets in the space of 24 runs.
Phannita Maya, Thipatcha Putthawong took one wicket apiece.
Later, Nattaya Boochatham and Nuruemol Chaiwai were the two batters of Thailand could reach double digit figures scoring 21 each.
Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets at the cost of seven runs, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad begged two wickets instead of 10 runs.
Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma and Sneh Rana took one wicket each for six, nine and 16 runs respectively.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket team reached the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup beating Pakistan Women’s Cricket team by one run in the second semi-final at the same venue on the same day. Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka made a fighting total of 122 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Pakistan to 121 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Inoka Ranaweera of Sri Lanka played the key role to restrict Pakistan. She bagged two wickets for 17 runs and was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Harshitha Samarawickrama of Sri Lanka hit a polished 35. Her 41-ball knock had one four.
Anushka Sanjeewane scored 26 from 21 balls including one four and one six.
Nashra Sandhu grabbed three wickets instead of 17 runs.
Nida Dar, Sadia Iqbal and Aimen Anwar took one wicket each.
Bismah Maroof of Pakistan hit a captain’s knock of 42. Her 41-ball innings saw four fours.
Nida Dar hit a run-a-ball 26 including one four.
Kavisha Dilhari and Sugandika Kumari took one wicket each for 26 runs each.