Dubai, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s cricket team celebrated a remarkable achievement by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup, held in Dubai. This victory marks India’s eighth title in the tournament’s history. Chasing a target of 184 runs, Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 111.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly praising opener Shafali Verma. “We know that Sri Lanka is a strong team, but we played to our standards. We set high benchmarks for ourselves, and I am very pleased with how the team performed,” she said. Kaur highlighted the excellent contributions from the openers, noting how Shafali and Smriti Mandhana excelled in their batting.
Coach Amol Majumdar also commended the team’s efforts. “I am proud of all the players and the support staff. The pitch was excellent, and we performed well. Our batting was strong, and we got off to a great start. Given the slower conditions over the past two weeks, scoring big and defending it was crucial,” he stated. Majumdar emphasized the importance of their spin bowlers in their strategy.
He further praised Shafali and Mandhana’s unique styles, saying, “Shafali has her own style and power, pushing the opposition back. Smriti has that talent too, and they complement each other well.” Reflecting on previous encounters with Sri Lanka, he noted how they had successfully dismissed key player Chamari Athapaththu in a prior series.
Following the match, Richa Ghosh shared her excitement about the atmosphere, crediting the fans for their support. “The ball was coming well at the start but slowed down later. Our batters played excellently, and we knew that getting a few wickets would help us control the game,” she explained.
Young player Ji Kamalini expressed her disbelief at becoming a champion. “It’s a different feeling. I’m just 18 years old and have learned a lot mentally from the senior players. They maintain the same mindset whether they score 100 runs or get out for zero,” she said.
The Indian team’s triumph in Dubai not only adds another trophy to their cabinet but also showcases their growing prowess in women’s cricket.
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