India clinched their fourth successive women’s cricket Asia Cup title, trouncing thrashing Sri Lanka by 177 runs in the final at the Welagedara stadium in Kurunegala on Sunday.

The two teams clashed in the final for the fourth successive time and once again it was the Indians who came out trumps.
Player of the match Asha Rawat fell short of a well-deserved hundred by three runs, while skipper Mithali Raj once again starred with a 66-run knock to help India put on 260 for seven in their quota of 50 overs.
The defending champions then bundled out the hosts for 83 in 35.2 overs with Seema Pujare and Neetu David picking up three wickets apiece.

Electing to bat, the Indians were dealt an early blow with opener Jaya Sharma departing in the second over without scoring. Rawat then joined Kavita Jain (28) to steady the innings before the latter was also sent back by S de Alwis with the scoreboard reading 75. Mithali and Rawat then made sure there were no further hiccups until the 38th over as the two steered the Indians towards a big score.

While Rawat struck 12 fours and a six in her 114-ball knock, Mithali hit six fours in her 72-ball stay at the crease. Amita Sharma chipped in with a quickfire 31-ball 50 to take India to what eventually turned out a winning score.
The Sri Lankan chase never got off and half of their side was back in the pavilion with just 62 runs on the board. Four of the Lankans were dismissed for nought and only two managed to register double-digit scores.
Player of the tournament all-rounder Rumeli Dhar and pacer Jhulan Goswami picked up a wicket each to complement Seema and Neetu.

SCORE BOARD

INDIA: Kavita Jain c Seneviratna b De Alwis 28, Jaya Sharma c Surangika b Weerakkody 0, Asha Rawat c Seneviratna b Siriwardene 97, Mithali Raj c Kaushalya b Janakanthymala 66, Rumeli Dhar c Weerakkody b Siriwardene 50, Amita Sharma lbw Siriwardene 5, Jhulan Goswami (not out) 5, Priyanka Roy c Seneviratna b Siriwardene 1. Extras (B-1, LB-2, W-5) 8. Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 260.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-75, 3-166, 4-248, 5-249, 6-258, 7-260.
Bowling: Chamani Seneviratna 8-0-40-0, Shiromala Weerakkody 6-0-30-1, A Janakanthymala 6-0-28-1, Chamari Polgampola 5-1-24-0, Suwini de Alwis 10-0-48-1, Eshani Kaushalya 7-0-34-0, Shashikala Siriwardene 8-0-53-4.

SRI LANKA: Dedunu Silva c Dhar b A Sharma 6, Chamari Polgampola b David 23, Shashikala Siriwardene c Goswami b Dhar 20,  Suwini de Alwis c Goswami b Seema 6, Eshani Kaushalya b Dhar 0, Dilani Maodara c Dhar b Seema 0, Chamani Seneviratna lbw David 9, Deepika Rasangika c David b Seema 0, Inoka Galagedara lbw David 0, Shiromala Weerakkody (not out) 8, A Janakanthymala c Jain b Goswami 1. Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-8) 10. Total (all out, 35.2 overs) 83.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-50, 3-61, 4-61, 5-62, 6-62, 7-66, 8-67, 9-80.
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 6.2-2-28-1, Amita Sharma 6-3-20-1, Rumeli Dhar 6-3-11-2, Seema Pujare 10-3-10-3, Neetu David 6-2-11-3, Sultana Gouher 1-0-1-0.