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| January 5, 2006 | Thursday | Zilhaj 4, 1426 |
Mithali’s century helps India retain Asia Cup
KARACHI, Jan 4: Skipper Mithali Raj hit a brilliant century to lead India to an overwhelming 97-run win against Sri Lanka and a second successive Asia Cup title here on Wednesday.
Mithali hit seven boundaries in an unbeaten 108 off 121 deliveries to anchor the defending champions to a fighting total of 269-4 in their allotted 50 overs and then restricted the Islanders to 172-9.
India beat Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan twice each in the double league event before reigning supreme in the final to defend successfully the Asia Cup title they won in Sri Lanka two years ago.
“It is a fantastic win for us. Although we proved stronger than Pakistan and Sri Lanka we were never complacent in the tournament, which helped us win,” said Mithali, who hails from Hyderabad Deccan in India.
Mithali was involved in two innings-building partnerships, putting on 94 for the first wicket with Jaya Sharma (62) and 104 for the second wicket with Anjum Chopra (42).
Sri Lanka, who beat Pakistan twice in the event to earn a berth in the final, never looked like chasing a stiff target despite Chamari Polgampole’s 58 and skipper Shsikala Siriwardene’s 55.
Indian fast bowler Devika Palshikar grabbed 3-31 to derail the Sri Lankan innings.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram who was the chief guest on the occasion, praised the Asian women’s standard of play.
“It is nice to see women play cricket. I am very amazed at watching Indian girls doing so brilliantly and with every chance the Pakistani girls will also improve,” said Wasim.
The tournament was Pakistan’s first staging of a major international women’s event after the government of the Islamic nation initiated national championships for women in cricket and football and allowed a mixed marathon last year.
Scoreboard
INDIA:
J. Sharma st Dedunu b Siriwardene 62
Mithali. Raj not out 108
A. Chopra run out 42
R. Dhar st Dedunu b Mala 14
M. Sumra run out 15
K. Jain not out 9
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-15, NB-1) 19
TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 269
FALL OF WKTS: 1-94, 2-198, 3-224, 4-246.
DID NOT BAT: N. David, Nooshin Al-Khadeer, J. Goswami, A. Sharma, D. Palshikar. BOWLING: Udawatte 6-1-26-0 (3w); Kowsalya 2-0-18-0; Polgampola 10-0-51-0 (4w); Siriwardene 10-0-44-1 (1w); De Alwis 10-0-54-0 (1nb, 3w); Chandrawathi 2-0-7-0.
SRI LANKA:
D. de Silva c Jain b A. Sharma 3
C. Polgampola st Jain b Palshikar 58
S. Siriwardene c J. Sharma b David 55
A. Kowardene b David 0
S. de Alwis c Goswami b Palshikar 8
P. Udawatte lbw b Nooshin 4
H. Abeysinghe c A. Sharma b Palshikar 3
I. Galagedera run out 12
J. Mala c Goswami b A. Sharma 10
Chandrawathi not out 7
D. Dedunu not out 2
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-5, NB-1) 10
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 172
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-89, 3-89, 4-108, 5-112, 6-126, 7-147, 8-158, 9-163
BOWLING: Goswami 7-1-24-0 (1w); A. Sharma 10-0-43-2 (1nb, 3w); Dhar 2-0-11-0 (1w); Nooshin Al-Khadeer 10-1-38-1; David 9-3-17-2 (1w); Palshikar 10-1-31-3 (1w); Raj 2-0-6-0.
WOMAN-OF-THE-FINAL: Mithali Raj.
UMPIRES: Riazuddin and Salim Badar.
MATCH REFEREE: Khateeb Rizwan.
—Agencies
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