PAK Women vs SL Women, 2nd Semi-Final at Dambulla, Women's Asia Cup, Jul 26 2024 - Match Result

Amazing game this. The crowd in Dambulla got their worth. Hopefully they would be back on Sunday, for India vs Sri Lanka in the afternoon. And I hope you enjoyed our coverage today, and joins us for the final of the Women's Asia Cup 2024. Thanks for joining, and till teh next time, take care! Ciao!

10:28pm Time for the presentation

Nida Dar, Pakistan captain: "Totally heartbroken. Lot of positives for my sides. A lot of young players, have a lot of potential. I must appreciate my team. A very good game of cricket. We were 10-15 runs short. If you use the new technology [DRS], the result might have been different. 140-145 is a wonderful score, but we can defend it. We went down to the last ball. Youngsters bowled well, batted well, took responsibility."

Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lanka captain, is the Player of the Match: "The game was very tight. Unfortunately I got out early, I had to finish the game. The girls finished the game in style. Hope my girls will continue this performance in the final as well. Good track for batting, positive intent is important. We lost a couple of wickets early, but stuck to our plan. I took my time because we lost wickets early. I am a senior batter, so I changed my batting style. I tried to finish the game but got out. Finals - very important game, but we don't want to take pressure. It is just one game, we want to enjoy the moment." She then goes on to thank the crowd in Sinhala.

10:17pm Everybody runs in, Sanjeewani is on the floor. The players are on her. Sri Lanka have pulled off a magical win. Dar looks inconsolable. Pakistan look disconsolate. Another Asia Cup semi-final, another heartbreak for them. What a game we have had. Pakistan did so well to bring the game deep from a point where Sri Lanka needed 21 off 21. Athapaththu now walks out with her team in toe. The handshakes take place, Athapaththu hugs each of her opponents. She has been at the receiving end of so many of such close contests. And that too from doorsteps of wins. Not this time. Not tonight. And certainly not at home in Sri Lanka.

Once again it was all upon Athapaththu. It almost wasn't. Dilhari played her bit. Sanjeewani did her thing. But without Athapaththu's contribution, Sri Lanka would have still fallen short. It was not the most fluent knock. But it is how Sri Lanka have played for a long time. Not so much this year, where they have been quite superb. The second semi-final is theirs, and they set a finals date with India on Sunday afternoon.

A word on Pakistan. Their batting has transformed and how. The openers Muneeba and Feroza are firing. If conditions in Bangladesh for the Women's T20 World Cup are anywhere close to how they have been in Dambulla, Pakistan could be a force to reckon. Today they also managed a tall finish - 40 runs in the final five overs. And then Sadia Iqbal. How will she be consoled tonight? Gave it her all and returned her best T20I figures, including getting rid of Athapaththu. But her efforts were just not enough. Dar took on the responsibility of bowling the final over - should she have bowled the penultimate? - and began with three dots including a wicket. But it just was not to be.

Uff! My fingers have got a proper workout. A short break then, don't go anywhere, do hang around for the presentation

Ashan : "Dar made sure everything correct in terms of fielding placements and then bowled a wide.." It was a very close call. She fired it in anticipating the charge. Good on Muneeba to have stopped that

Rayen: "Irrespective of the results, one hell of a match this is. Swinging here and there and great to see for the neutrals"

Shashank: "One of the most busiest pendulum I have witnessed in Women Cricket. Great for the game."

Wijerathne Bohi: "Fitting end and ideal entry to the final for Sri Lanka."

Dar takes her time to set her field. Has a chat with Muneeba to get the angles right. Two off two...

Achini Kulasuriya. Can she get off strike? Sanjeewani runs halfway through the field to greet Kulasuriya in the middle, constantly chatting to her till she gets to the pitch

To make matters worse for Pakistan, they are behind the over-rate, so a less fielder allowed outside the circle. Not a bad move considering Sri Lanka need just three. Sohail for the last over. No, Dar herself takes the ball in hand. The leading wicket-taker in WT20Is decides to take matter in her hands

What a game this has been. Three needed off the last six ball. Athapaththu cannot sit or stand still. She has her head down and is slowly walking around behind the dugout. Dambulla has found its voice

One strike away SL

Dar moves from midwicket to short third

Lots of discussions now. Dar has a word with her keeper, and then runs to her position at midwicket

16 needed off 12, Sandhu for the penultimate over

Amit: "I might need to take my works back. this game is still open for PAK. However, I would be very happy to see SL in finals as this is the home series for them and this will give the happiness to locals in very tough country situation "

Amit: "What a roller coaster match. Seems like SL favorite here as the ball-run margin is very less, couple of boundaries and that should be it for SL" Don't think SL can be termed favourites here

Sugandika Kumari is in now, 18 needed off 16 for Sri Lanka

20 off 18, Sohail back on

Gautammm: "Oopsie. Who will close this game now for SL. This is now make or break for SL. This is the opportunity for SL youth to show they can take up the challenge head-on "