Women’s Asia Cup Ranaweera spins Sri Lanka Women into semis

Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera’s impressive match figures of 4 for 2 in two overs paved the way for Sri Lanka Women to record a close three-run win on the DLS method in the match played at Sylhet, booking a berth to the semi-final of the Women Asia Cup.  

Sri Lanka Women invited to take first lease of the wicket underwent some anxious moments as they lost the wicket of skipper Chamari Atapattu in the second over with the score on six.  

Harshitha Samarawickrama and Anushka Sanjeewani associated in a brief stand of 25 runs for the second wicket before the duo were separated at the same score of 31.  

Later Nilakshi de Silva, who made a useful unbeaten knock of 28, shared two partnerships of 29 runs for the fourth wicket with Hasini Perera and 17 runs for the fifth wicket with Kavisha Dilhara before their innings was curtailed due to bad weather.  

Bangladesh Women coming into the field, having to achieve a revised target of 41 runs in seven overs, found spinner Ranaweera too hot to handle as they lost their top five wickets for 29 in the sixth over before ending their innings falling short by three runs.  

Meanwhile India Women demolished the high riding Thailand Women by nine wickets in another match played at the same venue to end their league campaign with five wins.  
Thailand Women taking first lease of the wicket were bundled out for a meager 37 runs and India Women in their run chase, raced to the target with ease in the sixth over.  

Sri Lanka Women will take on Pakistan Women today which will be of academic interest while Bangladesh Women will meet United Arab Emirates Women in a crucial encounter as they are in contention for the semi-final berth with Thailand Women, who have chalked up three wins against the two victories for Bangladesh Women. 

Results

At Sylhet – Sri Lanka won by three runs on D/L

Sri Lanka Women 83 for 5 in 18.1 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 18, Nilakshi de Silva 28 not out; Rumana Ahmed 2 for 14)  
Bangladesh Women 37 for 7 in 7 overs (Inoka Ranaweera 4 for 2)  

At Sylhet – India Women won by nine wickets

Thailand Women 37 in 15.1 overs (Sneh Rana 3 for 9, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2 for 8, Deepti Sharma 2 for 10)  
India Women 40 for 1 in 6 overs (Sabbhineni Meghana 20 not out)-MSA