Sri Lanka Women won over Nepal Women in the 6th T20 match of the tournament to qualify for the final of the South Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition. Sri Lanka will thus meet Bangladesh in the final to fight for the gold medal.
Sri Lanka Women won the toss and decided to bat first. Opener Umesha Thimashini was dismissed by Saraswati Kumari cheaply but Janadi Anali 35(36) and Harshitha Madavi 16(19) stabilized the innings. Captain Madavi was then bowled by Nepal’s Anjali Chand in the 9th over. Anali fell soon after to Sonu Khadka who also dismissed Kavisha Dilhari on a duck. Kumari took her second wicket in the form of Lihini Apsara who made 37 runs in 27 balls. Sathya Sandeepani also added 22 runs to Sri Lanka’s total as she was run out in the last ball of the innings. Sri Lanka ended their innings on 118/7.
Nepal Women were set to chase a modest target of 119 in the second innings but Sri Lanka bowlers made things quite difficult for them. Two of the top three batters were dismissed on zero scores on consecutive balls by Sandeepani while the other opener Kajal Shrestha was run out by opposition captain Madavi on 8. Malsha Ranathunga took the wicket of captain Rubina Chhetry Belbashi on 19(28) who was also the highest scorer from Nepal’s side. Apsari Begum and Karuna Bhandari made 11 and 12 runs respectively. Sachini Nisansala took 3 wickets in an over to restrict Nepal’s run flow. Kabita Kunwar remained not out on 13 as Nepal could only make 77 runs losing 9 wickets in 20 overs. Sri Lanka won the match by 41 runs and qualified for the final. Nepal will now face Maldives tomorrow for a match which will decide the third place holder.
Sri Lanka Women: 118/7 in 20 overs
Nepal Women: 77/9 in 20 overs
Result: Sri Lanka Women won by 41 runs
Player of the Match: Sachini Nisansala (3/16)
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