Pakistan miss out on Asian Games women's cricket final as Athapaththu blitz takes Sri Lanka through

Pakistan missed out on the Asian Games women’ cricket final as Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten half century gave the side an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Fatima Sana’s charges in the semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan on Sunday. Chasing 178, Sri Lanka raced to 178 with 13 balls to spare, with Athapaththu finishing unbeaten on 83 off 50 balls, having struck seven fours and six sixes. Harshitha Samarawickrama was unbeaten on 17. Pakistan had appeared to set a challenging target after posting 177 for four, with Ayesha Zafar top-scoring with 71 off 40 balls and Shawaal Zulfiqar contributing 54 off 50. But Sri Lanka’s chase quickly turned into a one-sided affair, led by their captain’s destructive hitting as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring rate.

It was Pakistan’s second defeat against Sri Lanka in 10 days after the former was knocked out of the recent Women’s Asia Cup as the latter won the tournament’s semi-final. Sri Lanka later lost to India and will meet the Asian champions — who beat Bangladesh in the other semi-final —in the gold medal decider. Bangladesh will take on Pakistan for the bronze medal encounter on Tuesday, the same day the final is to be played. Brisk start Sri Lanka made a brisk start despite opening against spin, with Imesha Dulani taking the attack to Umm-e-Hani. They reached 19 without loss after two overs before a costly third over from Momina Riasat, who conceded two no-balls and a wide. Fatima provided Pakistan with their first breakthrough in the fifth over, having Dulani bowled for 27 off 21 balls. Sri Lanka were 39 for one at that stage. Athapaththu, initially watchful, then accelerated spectacularly. She hit Momina for a six, four, six and four in the eighth over to take Sri Lanka to 70…