India clinch inaugural Emerging Asia Cup title in rain-hit final

India won the inaugural Asian Cricket Council Women's Emerging Asia Cup beating the hosts Sri Lanka by 14 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday (October 29).

The visitors suffered an early wobble as they lost their key batters. However, with India 63 for six, Tanusree Sarkar held fort and took the side to a respectable position - 140 for eight - before she was dismissed for 47 by Umesha Thimeshani. Towards the end, Simran Bahadur chipped in with 34 and the side posted 175 for nine.

A rain interruption meant a truncated second innings with Sri Lanka left needing 150 runs in 35 overs. The hosts lost both their openers in quick succession before their skipper Harshitha Madavi rebuild the innings. At one point it seemed Sri Lanka would emerge champions but Devika Vaidya got the big breakthrough as she dimissed Madavi (39) and turned the tables. Both Vaidya and Tanuja Kanwer returned with four wickets each and wrapped up Sri Lanka for 135 in 34.3 overs.

Earlier in the four-nation tournament, rain washed out both the opening games in Colombo. The players and officials were made to wait as torrential rain washed out matches on the second day as well. India were scheduled to play hosts Sri Lanka while Bangladesh were supposed to meet Pakistan.

Skipper Vaidya's unbeaten 43 before a three-wicket haul by Sushree Dibyadarshini helped India secure a 32-run win over Sri Lanka on Day 3. Put into bat first, India posted 171 for four, thanks to Vaidya's knock before she retired hurt and Tejal Hasabnis' 37 not out towards the end. In reply, a 36-run stand between Thimeshani and Madavi (55) set the tone for Sri Lanka. However, Dibyadarshini got the breakthrough as she dismissed Thimeshani (22). This led to Sri Lanka's collapse and the hosts wrapped up on 139.

Elsewhere, allround Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 65 runs. Opener Murshida Khatun's 69 off 112, which saw seven boundaries, and Fahima Khatun's (34) contribution towards the end took Bangladesh to a challenging total of 181 for eight. While defending, Bangladesh skipper Shaila Sharmin, who returned with three wickets, ran through Pakistan's top order and were restricted on 116.

On Day 4, Sri Lanka put up a sensational effort to beat Bangladesh by four wickets and set up a clash against India in the final of the tournament. Bangladesh posted 127 after opting to bat first. Their players got to brilliant start but none of their batters could go big as Kaveesha Welikonthage picked up three wickets while Athya Sandeepani and Thimeshani shared four wickets between them. In reply, skipper in-form Madavi scored yet another half-century took Sri Lanka home.

In another match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the Vaidya-led side cruised to a seven-wicket win. Vaidya led the bowling unit as she bagged four wickets while Dibyadarshini took three wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 106. In reply, although wicketkeeper-batter Nuzhat Parween missed her fifty but her 44 guided India to their yet another win in the tournament.

 

Brief scores:

Day 1 and 2- No result

Day 3- India 171/5 in 39 overs (Devika Vaidya 43*, Tejal Hasabnis 37*; Sathya Sandeepani 2-26) beat Sri Lanka 139 in 36.3 overs (Harshitha Madavi 55; Tanuja Kanwar 3-26, Sushree Dibyadarshini 3-28) by 32 runs.

Bangladesh 181/8 in 48 overs (Murshida Khatun 69, Fahima Khatun 34; Nashra Sandhu 2-29) beat Pakistan 116 in 43.4 overs (Muneeba Ali 27; Rabeya 3-5, Shaila Sharmin 3-20) by 65 runs.

Day 4- Bangladesh 127 in 48.3 overs (Sobhana Mostary 29; Kavisha Dilhari 3-18, Umesha Thimashini 2-14) lost to Sri Lanka 128/6 in 33.4 overs (Harshitha Madavi 53; Nahida Akter 3-41, Fahima Khatun 2-30) by four wickets.

Pakistan 106 in 46.5 overs (Tuba Hassan 32, Rameen Shamim 31; Devika Vaidya 4-23) lost to India 109/3 in 30 overs (Nuzhat Parween 44, Yastika Bhatia 17; Fatima Sana 1-9) by seven wickets.

Final- India 175/9 in 50 overs (Tanusree Sarkar 47, Simran Bahadur 34; Kaveesha Dilhari 3-27) beat Sri Lanka 135 in 34.3 overs (Harshitha Madavi 39; Tanuja Kanwar 4-15, Devika Vaidya 4-29) by 14 runs.