The Women’s Asia Cup, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was first played in 2004 in the 50-over format. Since 2012, it has been played in Twenty20 (T20) format. India has dominated the continental event with 7 titles, while Bangladesh once claimed the title. This tournament over the years has seen some incredible moments of skill and determination on the cricket field, particularly from bowlers who have often been the stars of the show. From game-changing spells that flipped the script to displays of unwavering precision, join us as we count down the five most memorable bowling performances in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup.
Here is a list of Top 5 Bowling Spell:
Mamatha Maben 6/10 vs Sri Lanka, Kandy 2004
The first edition of the Women’s Asia Cup in 2004 was a five-match bilateral ODI series between India and Sri Lanka. In the 4th ODI, Indian captain Mamatha Maben delivered what remains the standout bowling performance to date. She dismantled the Sri Lankan lineup, taking a 6-wicket haul while conceding just 10 runs in 6.2 overs.
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first backfired as Maben swiftly removed four of their top five batters, with the fifth falling to a runout. Sri Lanka’s opening batter, Galagedara, was run out with a score of 31, followed by Maben’s quick succession of Galhenage, Siriwardene, and Seneviratna for just 12 runs. Neetu David and Nooshin al Khadeer joined the party with Maben to wrap up the tail, dismissing Sri Lanka for a mere score of 66 runs. India comfortably chased down the target in under 18 overs, with Maben rightfully awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional display of bowling abilities. To date, no bowler is able to better her record in the Women’s Asia Cup.
Wongpaka Liengprasert 5/12 vs Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur 2018
In the league match of the 2018 Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur, Thailand beat Sri Lanka. Thailand chose to field first, Wongpaka Leingprasert led their bowling attack with a sensational five-wicket haul and proved their decision to field first valid. Alongside her, captain Sornnarin Tippoch contributed with 2 crucial wickets, while the remaining 3 Sri Lankan batters fell victim to runouts.
Leingprasert’s standout moment came when she dismissed Anushka Sanjeewani for 32 runs, who was anchoring one end of the Sri Lankan innings. Across her spell of 4 overs, Leingprasert conceded just 12 runs at an exceptional economy rate of just 3, claiming at least one wicket in each over, including 2 in her final over. Her stellar performance earned her the Player of the Match accolade, a fitting reward as she also played a key role in Thailand’s successful chase, contributing 13* runs off 9 balls. Sri Lanka was bowled out for a modest 104 runs, with Thailand chasing it in 20 overs to seal a memorable victory.
Omaima Sohail 5/13 vs Sri Lanka, Sylhet 2022
In the crucial last league match of the 2022 Asia Cup between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka opted to bat first. Initially, their decision seemed solid as they reached 58 for the loss of 2 wickets in just 7 overs, with Hassan and Nida Dar taking the first two wickets. With 13 overs remaining and 8 wickets in hand, Sri Lanka appeared in a good position to build a competitive total. However, Omaima Sohail had different plans.
In a stunning turn of events, she single-handedly dismantled Sri Lanka’s lineup, 5 Sri Lankan batters walked back to the pavilion in a span of the next 20 runs, all scalped by Omaima. Sri Lanka collapsed on a total of 112 all out. Pakistan then chased down the target in 18.5 overs, with Omaima getting the Player of the Match award for her match-winning performance.
Nida Dar 5/21 vs Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur 2018
In a league stage match against Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur, Pakistan opted to bat first. Despite a challenging start, they managed to post 136 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs, with skipper Bismah Maroof leading the charge with a determined innings of 60 runs. While it was a modest total to defend, it wasn’t beyond reach. Fortunately for Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s key player Chamari Athapaththu was not playing this match.
Sri Lanka’s openers began well, forming a solid partnership of 48 runs. However, the game changed dramatically when Nida Dar started unleashing havoc with the ball. In her first two overs, she dismissed both openers. By her third over, she had sent Anushka packing, reducing Sri Lanka from a comfortable 48 without loss to 67 for 3 wickets, with two new batters at the crease.
Dar continued her rampage, claiming two more wickets in her final over to end her spell with a five-wicket haul. With support from Maroof and Sandhu, who took one wicket each, Sri Lanka collapsed at 113 all out. Pakistan clinched victory by 23 runs, with Nida Dar rightly awarded the Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling performance that turned the game in Pakistan’s favor.
Renuka Singh 3/5 vs Sri Lanka, Sylhet 2022
2022 Asia Cup finals between India and hosts Sri Lanka at Sylhet. Athapaththu elected to bat first, a choice that would soon backfire. None of Sri Lanka’s batters managed to surpass 18 runs, with only two players reaching double figures.
This time it was Renuka Singh who led from the front. In her spell of 3 overs, which included a maiden over, she scalped 3 crucial wickets while conceding just 5 runs, with an impressive economy rate of just 1.66. India’s spin duo of Rajeshwari and Sneh Rana claimed 2 wickets each, cleaning up the rest of the line-up. Renuka dismissed key players such as Harshitha, caught behind by Ghosh, and the finishers Perera and Kavisha, one caught by Smriti and the other bowled out respectively.
More than the wickets, it was her disciplined bowling that kept the Sri Lankan under pressure in a defensive mode. Renuka Singh’s stellar performance rightfully earned her the Player of the Match award at the finals stage. The Sri Lankan team was back to the pavilion for a mere score of 65 runs, and India comfortably chased down the target, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s half-century, securing their record 7th Asia Cup title win.
Coincidently, all of these performances have come against Sri Lanka, with 3 of them coming in Sri Lanka. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the forthcoming 9th edition of this Asia Cup, set to begin from July 19th, also in Sri Lanka, will be played in the T20 format, providing the perfect stage for teams to put their best foot forward and finalize their first XI. Batters win you matches, bowlers win you tournaments and it remains to be seen which bowler takes their team to victory this time.
