Sri Lanka recovered from a dramatic 33/4 collapse to defeat Pakistan by four wickets, setting up a third consecutive Women’s Asia Cup final against India.
Match at a glance
- Pakistan captain Fatima Sana rescued her team with an unbeaten 47 from 36 balls.
- Sri Lanka crashed to 5/2 and then 33/4 while chasing 131.
- Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari added a match-winning 67 for the fifth wicket.
- Nilakshika Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana finished the chase with eight balls remaining.
- Sri Lanka will meet India in Sunday’s final – the third straight Asia Cup title clash between the sides.
DUBAI: Defending champions Sri Lanka Women produced a stirring recovery under knockout pressure, chasing down Pakistan’s 130/5 to win the second Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 semi-final by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The chase appeared to be slipping away when Fatima Sana struck twice in successive deliveries and Sri Lanka fell to 33/4. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari then changed the contest with calm running, controlled strokeplay and a 67-run partnership that carried Sri Lanka to 100 before Pakistan finally broke through.
A late burst from Nilakshika Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana completed the comeback at 134/6 in 18.4 overs. The winning runs arrived from a high full toss that was called a no-ball, with Nilakshika helping it over the wicketkeeper for four.
Fatima Sana lifts Pakistan to a defendable total
Asked to bat first, Pakistan struggled to establish momentum. Muneeba Ali departed for two, while Shawaal Zulfiqar’s aggressive 24 from 16 balls provided an early spark before Chamari Athapaththu removed her.
Gull Feroza occupied the crease for 21 from 32 deliveries, but wickets around her kept Sri Lanka in control. Ayesha Zafar made seven and Sadaf Shamas eight as Pakistan slipped to 52/4 in the tenth over.
Fatima responded with the innings Pakistan urgently needed. The captain struck four fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 47 from 36 balls, rebuilding first and accelerating later. Her partnership with Gull stabilised the middle overs before Tuba Hassan’s unbeaten 12 helped Pakistan reach 130/5.
Sri Lanka shared the wickets efficiently. Athapaththu returned 2/24, Chamudi Praboda took 2/25 and Sugandika Kumari conceded only 20 runs while claiming one wicket. The bowling effort ensured Pakistan never fully escaped despite Fatima’s late resistance.
Fatima’s double strike rocks the chase
Pakistan’s captain carried her batting confidence straight into the defence. In the second over, Fatima dismissed Sri Lankan captain Athapaththu for five and removed Sanjana Kavindi with the very next ball, leaving the defending champions 5/2.
Imesha Dulani counterattacked with four boundaries in a 21-ball 24, but Sadia Iqbal removed Hasini Perera and Umm-e-Hani dismissed Dulani soon afterwards. At 33/4 after 6.2 overs, Sri Lanka needed 98 more runs and Pakistan had a clear opening into the final.
Harshitha and Kavisha refused to chase the match in one burst. Their 67-run partnership was built through low-risk singles, pressure-releasing boundaries and excellent game awareness. By the time Pakistan separated them, Sri Lanka needed only 31 from 23 balls.
Harshitha and Kavisha rebuild under pressure
Harshitha made 36 from 31 deliveries and Kavisha contributed 33 from 33. Neither innings was defined by extravagant hitting; together they repaired the chase by rotating strike and forcing Pakistan’s fielders to remain constantly involved.
Fatima returned to remove both batters, completing an outstanding four-wicket spell and briefly reviving Pakistan’s hopes. But Sri Lanka’s lower-middle-order depth again proved decisive. Nilakshika struck three fours in an unbeaten 18 from 10 balls, while Kaushani smashed 10 not out from four deliveries, including a six.
The finish was rapid and ruthless. Sri Lanka scored the final 25 runs in ten balls after Kavisha’s dismissal, turning a tense semi-final into a victory with eight deliveries unused.
Leading performers
| Player | Team | Performance | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatima Sana | Pakistan | 47* (36) & 4/38 | Led Pakistan’s resistance in both innings |
| Harshitha Samarawickrama | Sri Lanka | 36 (31) | Absorbed pressure after the top-order collapse |
| Kavisha Dilhari | Sri Lanka | 33 (33) | Shared the decisive 67-run partnership |
| Nilakshika Silva | Sri Lanka | 18* (10) | Delivered the match-winning finish |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | 2/24 | Kept Pakistan’s middle order under control |
Post-match reactions
Athapaththu praised her bowling unit and the composure of Sri Lanka’s younger batters. She described the Harshitha–Kavisha stand as match-winning and said disciplined execution could give Sri Lanka the confidence to beat any opponent in the final.
Fatima felt 130 was defendable but credited Sri Lanka’s middle order for changing the game through sharp strike rotation. She identified Pakistan’s batting as the main area requiring improvement before their next campaign.
Records and milestones
- Three consecutive finals: Sri Lanka have reached the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
- Remarkable losing effort: Fatima Sana became Player of the Match after scoring 47 not out and taking four wickets despite Pakistan’s defeat.
- Unbeaten finalists: India and Sri Lanka will enter Sunday’s title match without a defeat in the 2026 tournament.
- Final trilogy: India beat Sri Lanka in the 2022 final before Sri Lanka reversed the result to win their maiden title in 2024.
Scorecard summary
Pakistan Women 130/5 in 20 overs: Fatima Sana 47 not out, Shawaal Zulfiqar 24, Gull Feroza 21; Chamari Athapaththu 2/24, Chamudi Praboda 2/25, Sugandika Kumari 1/20.
Sri Lanka Women 134/6 in 18.4 overs: Harshitha Samarawickrama 36, Kavisha Dilhari 33, Imesha Dulani 24, Nilakshika Silva 18 not out; Fatima Sana 4/38, Umm-e-Hani 1/19, Sadia Iqbal 1/21.
Result: Sri Lanka Women won by four wickets with eight balls remaining. Player of the Match: Fatima Sana.
The two unbeaten sides meet for the third consecutive Women’s T20 Asia Cup final. India reclaimed the trophy by defeating Sri Lanka in 2022, but Athapaththu’s side made history with its maiden title against India in 2024. Dubai will now stage the deciding chapter of this modern Asia Cup rivalry.
