Sri Lanka Women produced a composed run chase under pressure to defeat Pakistan Women by four wickets in the second semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium on September 11. Chasing 131, Sri Lanka recovered from a shaky start and reached 134/6 in 18.4 overs, with Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana holding their nerve in the closing stages. Pakistan, meanwhile, had been restricted to 130/5 in their 20 overs, despite a fighting unbeaten 47 from captain Fatima Sana, who also returned with four wickets to keep her side in the contest.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu opted to field first after winning the toss, putting Pakistan under the pressure of setting a competitive total in a knockout match. Pakistan opened with Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar, but the partnership never had the opportunity to develop. Muneeba managed only 2 off 8 balls before she was caught by Silva off Sugandika Kumari in the second over, leaving Pakistan at 5/1 after 1.6 overs. Shawaal responded positively, finding the boundary regularly as she added 24 from 16 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Her partnership with Gull Feroza, however, ended at 29 when Shawaal was caught by Kaushini off Athapaththu for 24, bringing Pakistan to 29/2 in 4.4 overs.
Gull Feroza then attempted to rebuild alongside Ayesha Zafar, but Sri Lanka continued to pick up wickets at important moments. Gull scored a patient 21 off 32 balls, hitting one four, before Athapaththu struck again with Praboda completing the catch at 37/3 after 6.3 overs. Ayesha followed for 7 off 8 balls, caught by Kaushini off Athapaththu, leaving Pakistan struggling at 52/4 after 9.5 overs. Sadaf Shamas provided a little stability with 8 from 11 balls, but she too departed at 52, caught by Kaushini off Praboda. At that stage, Pakistan needed a substantial late-innings contribution, and Fatima Sana took responsibility for providing it.
The Pakistan captain changed the tempo of the innings with a powerful unbeaten 47 off 36 deliveries, striking four fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 130.55. Fatima found valuable support from Tuba Hassan, who remained unbeaten on 12 off 10 balls, as the pair added an important 38-run unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership. Before that, Sadaf and Fatima had put together a crucial 40-run fifth-wicket stand, allowing Pakistan to recover from 52/4 to 92/5. The late acceleration took Pakistan to 130/5 after 20 overs, giving Sri Lanka a target of 131.
For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda claimed two wickets apiece, while Sugandika Kumari took one. Mithali Ayodhya conceded 33 runs from four overs, Sugandika finished with 1/20, Athapaththu returned 2/24 and Praboda 2/25, while Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva bowled economical spells, conceding 20 and six runs respectively.
Sri Lanka’s chase began in dramatic fashion as Pakistan immediately put pressure on the top order. Athapaththu lasted only six balls for five, caught by Sadaf Shamas off Fatima Sana, with the score at 5/1 after 1.2 overs. Just one ball later, Sanjana Kavindi was dismissed for a duck, caught by Shawaal Zulfiqar off Fatima, leaving Sri Lanka suddenly at 5/2. Imesha Dulani tried to steady the innings, but Sanjana’s departure meant there was barely a partnership between the two. Imesha eventually made a useful 24 from 21 balls, striking four boundaries, before she became Fatima’s third wicket at 33/4 in the seventh over.
In between, Hasini Perera made only 3 from eight balls, caught by Ayesha Zafar off Sadia Iqbal at 31/3 after 5.4 overs. Sri Lanka had slipped to 33/4, and Pakistan appeared to have gained a strong advantage. The match then turned dramatically through the fifth-wicket partnership between Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari. Harshitha, who had looked increasingly comfortable against the Pakistan attack, combined with Kavisha to produce the defining stand of the chase. The pair added 67 runs for the fifth wicket, transforming Sri Lanka from a struggling 33/4 into a side firmly in control of the run chase. Harshitha scored a fluent 36 off 31 balls, with two fours, while Kavisha contributed 33 from 33 deliveries, also hitting four boundaries.
Their partnership absorbed the pressure of the semi-final while steadily reducing the required run rate. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana eventually broke the partnership, dismissing Harshitha for 36 at 100/5 in the 17th over. She struck again almost immediately, removing Kavisha for 33 at 109/6 after 16.6 overs, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/38 from 3.4 overs. It gave Pakistan a final opportunity to force a late twist, but Sri Lanka’s lower order held firm. Nilakshika Silva, who had already played an important role behind the stumps, produced a crucial unbeaten 18 from just 10 balls, including four boundaries.
She found the perfect partner in Kaushini Nuthyangana, who remained unbeaten on 10 from four balls, including a six. Their unbeaten 25-run seventh-wicket partnership took Sri Lanka over the line with eight balls to spare. The final phase reflected the depth of Sri Lanka’s batting. Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal finished with 1/21 from four overs, while Fatima Sana’s four-wicket haul was the standout bowling performance of the innings. Umm-e-Hani claimed one wicket for just 19 runs from her four overs, while Nashra Sandhu went wicketless for 23 runs in four overs. Tuba Hassan bowled two overs for 22, and Ayesha Zafar’s solitary over cost eight. Sri Lanka eventually reached 134/6 in 18.4 overs, winning the Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women semi-final by four wickets.
The result sends Sri Lanka Women into the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, where they will face India after India defeated Bangladesh in the first semi-final. For Pakistan, Fatima Sana’s all-round performance, 47 not out with the bat and 4/38 with the ball, was exceptional, but Sri Lanka’s recovery through the Harshitha-Kavisha partnership and their calm finish from Nilakshika and Kaushini ultimately proved decisive. The victory continues Sri Lanka’s strong run in the tournament and sets up a high-profile India Women vs Sri Lanka Women final on September 13.
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