Dubai, Sept 2026 : India posted a formidable 183/5 against Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, riding on brilliant half-centuries from openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana and a record-breaking 129-run opening partnership.
Shafali led the charge with an explosive 68 off 39 deliveries, while Mandhana contributed a composed 59 off 39 balls. Their commanding partnership gave India complete control during the first half of the innings after captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first.
Shafali also created history during her whirlwind knock, smashing the fastest fifty in the history of the Women's Asia Cup. She reached the milestone in just 24 balls, underlining her aggressive intent from the outset. The fifty was her 21st in T20I cricket.
India began cautiously against Sri Lanka, with Mithali Ayodhya producing several impressive yorkers in the opening over. The Indian openers initially respected the good deliveries before beginning to attack once the Sri Lankan bowlers strayed from their lines and lengths.
After facing four dot balls at the start, Shafali quickly changed the momentum by hitting three boundaries in her next six deliveries. Mandhana also found the gaps regularly as India began accumulating runs at a rapid pace.
The first six of the final came from Shafali's bat in the fifth over when she launched Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu over long-on. The shot contributed to a 20-run over and further shifted the momentum in India's favour.
Sri Lanka managed to pull things back through left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari, who conceded just two runs in the sixth over. India nevertheless ended the powerplay strongly at 57/0.
Shafali brought up her historic half-century in the eighth over, hitting Kavisha Dilhari for a boundary to reach the fastest fifty in Women's Asia Cup history. Mandhana then joined the milestone club in the 11th over, registering her 36th T20I fifty.
The Indian openers continued their domination and eventually completed a record 129-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Sri Lanka finally broke through when Shafali was caught at cover by Athapaththu off left-arm spinner Chamudi Praboda.
The partnership created another record, becoming the highest opening stand in a Women's T20 tournament final. It surpassed the previous record of 120 runs, scored by West Indies' Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor against Australia in the 2016 Women's T20 World Cup final.
The 129-run stand was also the highest partnership for any wicket in the Women's T20 Asia Cup, surpassing the previous mark of 128 between Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma against the UAE in 2022.
Sri Lanka's fightback gathered momentum after Shafali's departure, and Mandhana was dismissed in the following over. The Indian opener was run out for the third time in the tournament after sacrificing her wicket in an attempt to get Harmanpreet Kaur safely to the other end following a mix-up.
Harmanpreet had promoted herself to No. 3, while Richa Ghosh came in at No. 4. Ghosh briefly provided acceleration with a boundary and a six but was dismissed by Athapaththu in the 18th over after top-edging a sweep towards cover.
The wicket also saw Athapaththu become the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, moving ahead of India's Deepti Sharma, who had yet to bowl.
India suffered another setback when Harmanpreet was dismissed for 14 after holing out to deep midwicket. Deepti Sharma was then run out off the very next delivery, leaving India at 167/5 after 19 overs.
With just one over remaining, India needed a strong finish to cross the 180-run mark. Making her first appearance of the tournament, G Kamalini delivered exactly that. The youngster smashed a boundary and a six off the final two deliveries to collect 16 runs from the last over and take India to a commanding 183/5.
Kamalini finished unbeaten on 15 from just five balls, providing India with the late impetus they needed.
For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu, Ayodhya and Praboda claimed one wicket apiece, but the damage had already been done by India's explosive opening pair.
India's total of 183/5 gives them a strong platform in the summit clash, with Sri Lanka now needing 184 runs to win the Women's Asia Cup 2026 title.
Brief Score:
India: 183/5 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59, G Kamalini 15 not out; Chamari Athapaththu 1, Mithali Ayodhya 1, Chamudi Praboda 1).
Sri Lanka: Target 184.
