Weekly CRICKET Review - LXiii | SL queens dominated the Asia

Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,

You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 64th edition now.

While SL men's SL Cricket team is humiliating us in the World Cricket, our girls have made our days. They won the maiden Asia Cup title for Sri Lanka with a dominating performance throughout. Hats off girls! It's a great day day for us!

Using Canva & Getty Images

Women's Asia Cup T20, 2024

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• Crowds were filled in the stadiums in semi finals against Pakistan and the final against India, I think for the first time in a Woman's game. People have started to talk about them in shops, offices, clubs from villages to towns. People are looking for their names. I have the same emotions for them as pre-2015 Men's team and my father says that it's just the same vibe as Arjuna and his team.

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• Sri Lanka have done so well in the fast couple of years in Women's Cricket with the backbone and foundation from many senior players and officials in the last decade. The leadership, personality and the performances of Chamari has been phenomenal, and the way youngsters are grooming around her is what makes it more special. That's the Arjuna vibe and his team I was talking earlier. She is the leader anyone can look up to, and she has created a team any leader can hope for.

• In the group stage, we were quite dominating beating Bangladesh by 7 wkts, Malaysia by 144 runs, Thailand by 10 wickets. And so did the India in the other group Pakistan by 7 wickets, United Arab Emirates by 78 runs and Nepal by 82 runs.

• In the semi, it was an easy win for India as they outplayed Bangladesh by 10 wickets. But ours against Pakistan was really enjoyable. Pakistan batting first put a decent total of 140/4 in their 20 overs. Chamari help from one side with a half century, even wickets were rumbling regularly from the other side. Anyway, after chamari got out with 21 runs remaining Anushka Sanjeewani with the latter held their nerve and crossed the mark with a ball and 3 wickets in hand.

• Well, the big final was on Sunday, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Even SL was all positive, stadium packed, the odds were bit high. Out of 9 Asia Cups, India have reached the final in all and won 8 of them. You do the math. That's what it makes this more valuable.

Batting first India got good start, a small scatter in the middle and then a good finish. Sri Lanka was a lil poor in fielding though. Anyway Mandhana's half-century and a finishing job from Richa Ghosh gave India 165/6 from their 20 overs. Just after the chase was started Vishmi Gunaratne got to go with a run-out, but captain once again led the charge with Harshitha Samarawickrama with a 87-runs partnership.

But when Chamari fell out Sri Lanka still needed 72 off last 9. Anyway, Harshitha just carried out toying Indian ballers with Kavisha Dilhari and crossed the mark with a six in the 19th over.

• This image will be a testimony and a inspiration to many young girls and kids in Sri Lanka to love Cricket. And personally I wish for more chances, privileges and recognition for them and also for other sports in the the country. For now, I am almost done with Sri Lankan Men's Cricket team. The hype and priority for them should be transformed to the other sports and Women's Cricket, if not by the Shammi's Cricket board but by the Sri Lankan fans.

• Don't get me wrong. I am not a racist Sports Enthusiast, just looking for wins. Even we failed very much before 2015 as well. But why we still love them? Their hunger, attitude and mindset to win, for the country and the fans. They genuinely grieve with us in the failures and in the game before, and from the start to end. Not like current clowns.

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West Indies tour of England

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• It was clean sweep by England, as the won the Test series as 3-0. A quite fascinating tournament under Ben Stokes, while he opening the batting in the last inning, Jimmy retiring and Root surpassing 12000 runs in red ball cricket. Gus Atkinson from Eng and Jayden Seales from WI, won the player of the series awards separately.

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India tour of Sri Lanka

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• After Gambhir took the coaching, and SKY being appointed as the new T20 I captain India could already won the t20 series as 2-0 with a match remaining.

Until the next time! Enjoy!

Thank you.
Best Regards!