May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

KURUNEGALA, May 11: India clinched their fourth successive Women’s Asia Cup cricket title by thrashing Sri Lanka by a massive 177 runs in the final at the Welagedara Stadium 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 Pujare Seema and Neetu David picking up three wickets apiece.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Indians were dealt an early blow with opener Jaya Sharma departing in the second over without scoring a run.

Rawat then joined Kavita Jain (28) to steady the innings before the latter was also sent back by Suwini 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 also chipped in with a quickfire 31-ball 50 to take India to what eventually turned out a winning score.

Sri Lankan skipper Shashikala Siriwardene claimed four for 53.

Sri Lanka were faced with an intimidating target, and they received a setback when Dedunu Silva was dismissed by seamer Amita Sharma in the fourth over.

Chamari Kumarihami and Siriwardene, who scored 23 and 20 respectively, took Sri Lanka to 50 in the 13th over. But moments after, Siriwardene fell to Dhar, a dismissal which was the start of an abrupt collapse, as Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for the addition of just 33 runs.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

K.V. Jain c Seneviratna b de Alwis 28

J. Sharma c Surangika b Weerakkody 0

A. Rawat c Seneviratna b Siriwardene 97

M. Raj c Kaushalya b Mala 66

R. Dhar c Weerakkody b Siriwardene 50

A. Sharma lbw b Siriwardene 5

J. Goswami not out 5

P. Roy c Seneviratna b Siriwardene 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-5) 8

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 260

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-75, 3-166, 4-248, 5-249, 6-258, 7-260.

DID NOT BAT: P. Seema, N. David, G. Sultana.

BOWLING: Seneviratna 8-0-40-0 (1w); Weerakkody 6-0-30-1 (3w); Janakanthy Mala 6-0-28-1l Kumarihami 5-1-24-0; de Alwis 10-0-48-1 (1w); Kaushalya 7-0-34-0; Siriwardene 8-0-53-4.

SRI LANKA:

L.D.V.V. Silva c Dhar b A. Sharma 6

P.R.C.S. Kumarihami b David 23

H.A.S.D. Siriwardene c Goswami b Dhar 20

S.P. de Alwis c Goswami b Seema 6

L.E. Kaushalya b Dhar 0

M.A.D.D. Surangika c Dhar b Seema 0

C.R. Seneviratna lbw b David 9

H.M.D. Rasangika c David b Seema 0

S.I. Galagedara lbw b David 0

S.S. Weerakkody not out 8

A.D. Janakanthy Mala c Jain b Goswami 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-8) 10

TOTAL (all out, 35.2 overs) 83

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-50, 3-61, 4-61, 5-62, 6-62, 7-66, 8-67, 9-80.

BOWLING: Goswami 6.2-2-28-1 (3w); A. Sharma 6-3-20-1 (1w); Dhar 6-3-11-2 (2w); Seema 10-3-10-3 (1w); David 6-2-11-3 (1w); Sultana 1-0-1-0.

RESULT: India won by 177 runs.—Agencies