Deepti sharma

Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium: Harshitha Samarawickrama hammered 69 not out after skipper Chamari Athapaththu made a brilliant half-century(61 off 43 ) to help Sri Lanka Women beat seven-time champions Indian Women by eight wickets in the final to clinch their maiden Women's Asia Cup title at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.

After India posted 165/6 thanks to a half-century by opener Smriti Mandhana (60 off 47) and a cameo by Richa Ghosh (30 off 14), the hosts raced to 167/2 in 18.4 overs thanks to the superb innings by Samarawickrama and Athapaththu.

Sri Lanka's run chase started on a shaky note as Vishmi Gunaratne was run out early. However, the experienced Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama steadied the ship with a crucial 87-run partnership for the second wicket. Athapaththu, who accumulated over 300 runs in the tournament, played a captain’s knock, reaching her half-century off just 32 balls. Her aggressive innings of 61 off 43 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes, laid the foundation for the successful chase.