Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu has voiced her team’s confidence in the fight to make it to the Women’s Asia Cup final as a hard-fought four-wicket win over Pakistan in the semi-finals. Sri Lanka was able to put up a composed performance under pressure to become the second team to make it to the final for the second time in the tournament.
India Await Sri Lanka in the Summit Clash
The defending champions will now play India at the summit clash on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium in the last match. Despite the initial struggle in their semi-final race, Athapaththu said Sri Lanka’s depth, experience and ability to stay calm in stressful situations give them the confidence to tackle anyone that comes into the competition.
Early Wickets Put Sri Lanka Under Pressure
Sri Lanka were set a target of 131 runs by Pakistan and their chase immediately came under pressure. Athapaththu herself was dismissed early and Sanjana Kavindi and Hasini Perera also departed in the first six overs. With three key wickets down early, Pakistan looked to have a strong opportunity to put the defending champions under serious pressure.
Harshita and Dilhari Turn the Game Around
Sri Lanka’s younger batters answered in a good way. Harshita Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari came together and played a key partnership that put that contest on the board. Instead of trying to play dangerous shots, the two picked up singles and waited for a chance to score boundaries.
Crucial 67-Run Partnership Gives Sri Lanka Control
The duo added 67 runs for that important partnership and took the pressure off and Sri Lanka secured victory. Their approach impressed Athapaththu who described the partnership as match-winning particularly because it happened at a point in time in which Pakistan was performing with great strength.
Harshita scored 36 runs and Dilhari 33. Both batters were eventually out in the 17th over, but by then Sri Lanka had gained control over the chase. The defending champions needed 30 runs from the last 23 deliveries when the pair left.
Nilakshi de Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana then took responsibility for the closing stages and ensured no late collapse. Sri Lanka made it across the line with eight balls to play to win a memorable comeback victory.
Athapaththu was particularly pleased with Sri Lanka's young players' performance. The captain says the team’s biggest strength is the fact that they have a lot of players who will take responsibility when it comes to responsibility. She highlighted Harshita, Nilakshi and Kavisha as the key finishers and also praised the team's bowling unit.
Captain Athapaththu Admits Fielding Needs Improvement
Sri Lanka's captain said the team had areas to improve in the field too. Sri Lanka dropped a couple of catches in Pakistan's innings but their overall bowling performance kept the opposition to a manageable total.
The captain believes the bowling attack and the team’s improved batting group gives the team a lot of confidence heading into the final.
Defending Champions Fight Back-to-Back Titles
The win is of particular significance since Sri Lanka has just hit the Women’s Asia Cup final for the second consecutive year. As title holders they will hope to maintain their title but a formidable Indian side will be in the final.
India-Sri Lanka Rivalry Takes Centre Stage
India and Sri Lanka have a strong rivalry in women’s cricket and the final will be a classic match between two teams with contrasting strengths. India has a lot of depth of batsmen and a well-experienced bowling attack but Sri Lanka have shown all through this tournament that they are able to remain composed under pressure.
ASIA CUP FINAL SET 🏏
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) September 12, 2026
🇮🇳 India Women vs 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Women
📅 September 13, 2026
⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Dubai
Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by 4 wickets in Dubai to qualify for the Women’s Asia Cup Final against India. pic.twitter.com/vruXQ7NbbQ
Athapaththu's Confidence Boosts Sri Lanka
For Athapaththu, the semi-final victory is evidence that Sri Lanka has the personnel required to handle difficult situations. The early wickets against Pakistan could easily have derailed the chase, but the partnership between Harshita and Dilhari showed the maturity of the team's younger generation.
Sri Lanka will hope for a more complete performance both at bat and ball in the final now. Athapaththu’s confidence on the team will also boost the squad as the defending champions prepare for their biggest challenge of the tournament.
A Chance to Prove Their Championship Credentials
The Women’s Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka in Dubai will be much more than a title battle. Sri Lanka will have to prove that their previous championship success was not a one-off and their next generation of players are ready to perform on the biggest stage.
