The women's cricket team of Sri Lanka has defeated the women's cricket team of Pakistan in their second semi-final match held on 11th September of ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026. They will be playing against India for the championship on 13th September.
Pursuing 131 to win, Sri Lanka managed to make the required runs in the end but only after a difficult run chase—falling from 5 for 2 and then 33 for 4 within the first seven overs.
Chamari Athpaththu, their captain, who had earlier made the decision to bowl first in an evenly tossed match, was also the one to kick-start their batting comeback, sending back Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar in the same two-over period.
Sugandika Kumari, a left-arm spin bowler, had also sent out Muneeba Ali in the field, while the young Chamudi Praboda had stumped Sadaf Shamas to leave Pakistan struggling at 52/4 inside 30 minutes.
The match became significant in terms of this particular innings, in which Harshitha Samarawickrama (36 off 31 balls) and Kavisha Dilhari (33) added 67 runs between them.
This inning became even more crucial due to the failure of the batsmen of Sri Lanka to make an impression.
However, despite her efforts to turn the game in favor of Pakistan by performing an incredible task of getting two batters out in one over, Sana could not stop Sri Lanka from scoring 134/6.
The 130 for 5 score posted by Pakistan was almost achieved single-handedly by the skipper of the team, Fatima Sana. She scored an unbeaten score of 47 off just 36 balls, including four fours and two sixes, to drag her side to a score worth defending despite the failures of the top order.
Then, she came to bowl and delivered a good spell of 4 for 36, which included two double wicket overs. In spite of her all-round contribution, making her win the Player of the Match award, Sri Lanka was able to get across the line.
Based on this outcome, the country of Sri Lanka becomes eligible to play in the final match of the Asia Cup tournament for the second consecutive year, where they will face the defending finalists in the shape of India on September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
For the country of Pakistan, this is an indication that their participation ends at the semi-final stage because Sana alone was not able to change the equation in favor of Pakistan.
India had already secured their place in the final prior to this semi-final.
