SL-W vs PAK-W Ball by Ball Commentary

NO BALL, FOUR! That will do nicely. Sri Lanka reach their third successive Asia Cup final. Joy all around in the Lanka camp. In contrast, Fatim Sana is visibly distraught. It slips out of Sana's hand as she dishes out an above-waist full toss, on middle. Nilakshika is taken aback slightly but manages to get the scoop up and over the keeper's head. Not exactly where Silva intended it to go, as it comes more off the outer half, but it will not matter one bit as it races away to the deep third fence and celebrations begin in the Sri Lankan dugout.

A swing and a miss. Floated up there by Sana, this was there to be cashed in with the field up on the off side. Silva backs away, looking to go inside out but fails to make any connection.

A couple of runs more as Sri Lanka inch closer to the finishing line. Serves it full, around off. Nilakshika leans across and cracks the drive between cover and mid off. The cover fielder dives to her right but the ball evades her. It is mopped up eventually by the mid-off fielder with a dive but she cannot prevent the batters from coming back for the second run. 2 needed off 9 balls.

On a back of a length, on middle. Kaushini Nuthyangana smears it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

NO BALL, SIX! A costly error by Fatima Sana, who has been on the mark all night. It could not have come at a worse time for Pakistan. The game tilts decisively in favour of Sri Lanka, with them left needing 5 runs off 11 balls. Sana goes searching for the yorker but gets it all wrong as it comes out as an above-waist full toss, on middle. Nuthyangana takes full toll as she nails the pull shot beyond the deep square leg fence for a biggie. Free Hit coming up.

Misfield! A clean pick-up could have resulted in a run out chance. Angled in at the pads, bowled on a length. Silva tucks it straight to square leg and sets off for a quick single. Umm-e-Hani swoops in and gets low but fails to pick the ball up cleanly and lets it through. That allows the batters to complete the single comfortably.

1 run, this is worked away for a run.

1 run, there comes the broom and the ball is swept away for a run.

2 runs, this is driven through the covers for a couple.

1 run, there comes the broom and the ball is swept away for a run.

FOUR! In the gap. Around off, fuller in length. Nilakshika Silva reaches across and rolls her wrists over the ball. Hits it hard but all along the ground to the left of deep square leg for a boundary.

No run, beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.

OUT! LBW! Pakistan go up in unison, and the finger is raised. Kavisha Dilhari does not seem happy with the decision, and the replays later show why. Angled in at the sticks, on a length. Kavisha walks across her stumps and gets low for the scoop but misses. She gets pinged on the pads but the ball deflects off the glove. No DRS in this tournament and Dilhari will have to accept the verdict. Both set batters back in the hut. Talk about leading from the front, and Fatima Sana is the epitome of it tonight, first with the bat and now with the ball to keep Pakistan in the contest.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Slower one, on a length, on off. Dilhari presses forward and launches it back over the bowler's head with a high elbow. Neither long off nor the long-on fielder can cut it off.

Stumping chance missed! Pace off ball, angled into the pads. Dilhari hops inside the line for the tickle but misses and her back leg gets dragged out of the crease. Muneeba Ali moves to her left and gets her body behind the ball but fiddles with it and cannot gather it cleanly. That allows Kavisha a window to plonk her back leg in.

1 run, that is flicked away through mid wicket for a single.

FOUR! Fatima Sana is not happy with the effort there. Skidding through, on a short of a length, outside off. Nilakshika Silva waits back and uses the pace as she steers it to the right of the short third fielder. Shawaal Zulfiqar is late to get the dive in and the ball goes under her body before going into the fence.

OUT! CAUGHT! Who else but Fatima Sana to provide a timely breakthrough? Pakistan needed that. Bowled on a good length from around the wicket, outside off. Samarawickrama walks across the stumps and tries to use the pace and scoop it over short fine leg. Ends up spooning it towards short fine leg, where Shawaal Zulfiqar reacts well as she moves forward and dives to take the catch inches off the turf. End of a 67-run stand. Sri Lanka Women are 100/5, needing 31 runs off 23 balls.

1 run, that is flicked away through mid-wicket for a single. With this, the 100 comes up for Sri Lanka.

A loud shout for LBW, but turned down! There seemed to be a deflection onto the pads. Tossed up, on a good length, on off and middle. Harshitha hangs low and reaches out in front for the reverse, but is early into the shot and gets hit on the forearm before the ball deflects onto the pads. Well, well, that was pretty adjacent, and Samarawickrama has gotten away with one here.

1 run, the batter comes forward and plays an off drive for a run.

1 run, the batter goes back in the crease and flicks it away through square leg for a single.

Not in control but safe. Pushed through, short and on off. Dilhari hops back for the pull but gets a bit of a top edge. It lands safely towards the wide mid-on region for a single.

This is dropped short, extremely slow, near the tramline on off. Samarawickrama shuffles across and is in two minds about whether to bash it away or play the late dab. Ends up doing the latter as she works it to the right of the short third fielder for a single. Harshitha is unhappy with herself as she realises that she was better off powering it away.

A dot to end the 15th over. Shorter and outside off. The width is there for Dilhari to cash in, but she thumps it straight to cover. Kavisha continues to find the fielders on the off side. Sri Lanka require 36 runs off 30 balls.

Good hustle between the wickets. Slower through the air, a hint of turn, on a length, on off. Samarawickrama leans across and taps it wide of cover before hurrying to the other end.

Around off, Dilhari sweeps this away to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! With the turn, played in the gap. Flighted up, on middle. Dilhari takes a step or two down the track and then collapses her back knee to club it right in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary. 38 runs needed off 33 balls.

Tossed up, on off. Dilhari steps out to take the ball on the full but picks out the cover fielder.

1 run, that is flicked away through mid wicket for a single.

Harshitha Samarawickrama comes forward and plays it down to long off for a run. Another good over for Sri Lanka as 8 runs come off it. 43 needed off 36 balls.

Oh, dear! Sliding onto the pads, on a good length. Harshitha uses the depth of the crease and nurdles it behind square leg. The short fine leg fielder moves to her right and dives but is beaten. The deep square leg fielder sprints to her left to mop it up as the batters pick up a couple. Harshitha had her eyes on the throw, as did Muneeba Ali, and the batter ends up colliding with the keeper, with the Lankan falling to the ground as a result.

1 run, that is pulled away through the mid wicket region for a single.

Zafar gets away with another loose ball. Short and wide on off with no protection in the deep on the off side. Kavisha flashes but fails to make any connection.

Smart batting! From around the wicket, slightly shorter and near the tramline on off. Samarawickrama knows that there is no one at deep fine leg. She walks across her stumps and gets inside the line. She also gets low to get under the ball and scoops it down to long leg. By the time the deep square leg fielder can get around, the batters come back for the third run. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters, and this was just what the doctor ordered for the island nation.

Missed out! Ayesha starts with a rank long hop, outside off. It is there to be put away but Dilhari spanks it straight to the cover fielder. A slight fumble is enough for the batters to sneak in a quick single.

FOUR! Good use of the feet. A boundary off the last ball turns a quiet over into a good one for Sri Lanka. Loopy ball, across off by Tuba. Harshitha shimmies down the track and takes the ball on the full. She opens the bat face and slices it over cover. There is no one in the deep to cut it off. 8 runs off the over. Sri Lanka Women require 51 runs off 42 balls.

Full and on middle and leg, Dilhari sweeps this behind square leg for a single.

Extremely slow, short and on middle, that is pulled away through the square leg region for a single.

Very full, on off, squeezed down to long off for a run by Kavisha.

Dropped short, that is cut away but straight to the fielder at point. A few metres to the either side and that could have been a boundary with no protection in the deep.

Flatter and shorter, on middle. Harshitha pulls it without much timing to deep mid-wicket for a single.

1 run, this is driven through mid on for a single.

Top edge but safe. Keeps it full, outside off. Kavisha takes the risk of going against the turn. It is skied off a top edge but lands safely in the vacant mid-wicket region. Just a single.

On a length, on off, Samarawickrama steps out and works it down to long on for one more run.

Oh, a lucky escape for Dilhari! Hangs it up there, does Sundhu, outside off, not all that full. Kavisha charges down the track and shuffles across to get closer to the line of the ball. She fails to get to the pitch of the ball, and she is nearly undone but just about manages to get some bat on the ball. It goes off the outer half, wide of short third for a single.

No run, the batter looks to play the cut but is comprehensively beaten.

On a length, on middle. Harshitha wrists it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Eyman Fatima's effort goes in vain. Just the over Sri Lanka needed immediately after the break. 14 runs off it. Tuba stays on the shorter side, outside off. Kavisha hangs back and plays the late cut fine of Fatima at short third. Eyman gives a long chase and dives to flick the ball behind her and away from the fence. She does not manage to get enough hand on it to push the ball away and as she lands on the ground, the ball brushes her body, with her being in contact with the boundary cushions. 64 needed off 54 balls.

10 runs off the over with a ball to go. Fractionally short, outside off. Samarawickrama waits on the back foot and cuts it late to thread the gap between backward point and short third. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence, but Harshitha pushes her partner for the third run, and they make it.

Dropped short, on off. Kavisha hops back and flat bats it down to long on for a run.

Looped up, across off, Samarawickrama knocks it down to long off for another single.

FOUR! Nicely done. Floated up, too straight, full and on the pads. Harshitha Samarawickrama brings out the broom and rolls her wrists over the ball to control the shot as she plays it behind square leg. Gull Feroza covers good ground to her left and slides. She stretches her hands out to flick the ball away from the fence but it sneaks under her hands and trickles into the boundary cushions.

Sprayed down leg, full in length. Dilhari sweeps it towards short fine leg, where the fielder gets down on her knees but the ball goes through her hands. It deflects away towards square leg off her boot. They cross.

Flighted and full, on middle, Kavisha sweeps it through square leg for a single. Sri Lanka Women are 53/4 at the halfway mark, just for the record, Pakistan Women were 52 for 4 at the same stage. So, it's neck and neck.

1 run, there comes the broom and the ball is swept away for a run at deep square leg.

Advances down the track and knocks a full ball down to long on for a run.

FOUR! Up and over! Nashra Sundhu overpitches outside off, and Kavisha Dilhari spots the gap with mid off inside the circle. She gets underneath it and lifts it cleanly over the infield for four. Sri Lanka reach 50 in the chase.

Quicker one, short and on off, Harshitha Samarawickrama gets back, plays late and guides it to short third, for a run.

Short and wide outside off, Harshitha Samarawickrama cuts but finds the point fielder.

On middle, tucked behind square leg for a run.

Flatter and on off, spinning away, Harshitha Samarawickrama gets back to play inside the line but misses again.

Spin and bounce, outside off, Harshita tries for the inside-out shot and misses.

Gets back, opens the face of the bat late and guides it down to deep third for a brace.

Fuller and on off, Harshitha Samarawickrama slices her attempted drive and it falls just short of point.

Loopy one, full and outside off, Harshitha Samarawickrama stretches her arms and plays a mistimed lofted shot. It clears cover-point and they get a run.

Short and on off, spinning away, Kavisha Dilhari goes deep inside the crease and has to reach out for the pull shot. Still, she places it in the gap at deep mid-wicket for a couple. 91 needed off 72 balls.

No run, that is driven through the covers, but it is a dot ball.

Loopy and outside off, Kavisha Dilhari gets down and across before paddling it down to deep fine, for a couple.

Short and on off, punched to covers.

Full and sliding down, Kavisha tries to paddle it around but misses. It takes her gloves and lobs up to hit her on the hands.

Extra flight, full and on middle, Harshitha Samarawickrama walks forward and knocks it down to long on for a run.

Sharp turn again, from outside off, Dilhari gets back to run it down but then blocks at the last moment. The asking rate has gone over 7 now.

Spinning down from around leg, Kavisha goes for the sweep but misses. The keeper also misses and it sprints behind for two byes.

Another sharp turn into the batter, Kavisha Dilhari fails to work it away and is rapped on the pads. The appeal goes up and again dies down.

Turning in from outside off, Kavisha Dilhari tries to defend but misses. She is hit high on the pads and the appeal dies down.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust, and the set Imesha Dulani is gone! Umm-e-Hani picks up her first wicket with a flighted delivery that lands full on middle. Dulani goes for the slog-sweep but is through the shot too early, sending a top edge straight up into the air. Muneeba Ali barely has to move from behind the stumps before completing the catch. Sri Lanka are now four down and in serious trouble.

Floated ball, full and on off, Dulani tries to play the reverse sweep but it takes her gloves and lobs behind the keeper. They get two runs. Given as byes, strangely.

Flighted and on off, Harshitha Samarawickrama works it with the spin to mid-wicket. Powerplay done, Sri Lanka Women are 31/3, needing 100 from the remaining 14 overs.

No run, just a mere push. But no space for a run.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sadia Iqbal tosses it up generously, landing full around off, and Hasini Perera is too early into the slog. The bottom hand comes off the bat, resulting in a miscued hit towards mid off. Ayesha Zafar charges in from inside the circle after moving across to her left initially and completes the catch. The promising partnership is cut short, with Sri Lanka needing 100 from 86 balls.

Short in length and wide outside off, Perera cuts from the back foot but finds point.

Fine shot. Hasini Perera gets down to a full delivery outside off and sweeps it neatly through square leg. She places it into the gap and comes back comfortably for two.

Tossed up, on middle, Hasini gets back and defends it down on the surface.

Fires it full and down the leg side, Hasini Perera fails to sweep, and it sneaks past Muneeba Ali, the keeper. They cross for a bye.

Tossed up, around middle and full in length, Hasini Perera defends it from the outer half of her bat, towards covers.

Full and on off, Dulani goes down to sweep but under-edges it, wide of short fine, for a run.

On middle, helped to square leg. Hasini Perera looked for a run but was sent back.

FOUR! Goes with the spin and finds the fence! Imesha Dulani uses the turn to her advantage, clears her front leg and swings the full delivery over mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep moves across to her left, but the ball beats her comfortably and runs away for four. A dive was needed there...

Loopy and full, on middle and spinning down, Imesha Dulani fails to defend and is hit on the front pad. The bowler appeals but to no avail.

Length delivery on middle, Imesha waits and works it through square leg for a run. A productive over for Sri Lanka Women, 11 runs off it.

FOUR! Well played! Imesha Dulani waits back for the short ball around middle and leg, then rolls her wrists to pull it neatly behind square. The fielder in the deep dives across, but the ball has enough pace to beat her and reach the boundary. 109 needed off 97 balls.

Pitches it up and outside off, Imesha unfurls a fantastic drive but finds the fielder at covers.

A touch short and on off, angling in, Imesha Dulani goes back and wrists it in front of square on the leg side. They take a couple of runs.

Fuller and on off, driven down to mid off.

FOUR! Pristine timing and placement! Back of a length outside off, Imesha Dulani sits back and punches it sweetly through the gap between point and cover-point. The fielder throws herself across inside the ring, but can only watch as the ball speeds away to the fence.

Quicker arm ball, full and on middle, skidding in, Dulani leans to defend but it takes the inside edge. It squirts to square leg and they take a run. 119 needed off 102 balls.

Lunges to a full ball and defends it back.

Arm ball, short and around off, Imesha goes back to cut but is cramped a bit for room. Mistimes it towards cover-point.

FOUR! Intent on display! Imesha Dulani gets a flighted delivery in her hitting zone and responds with a well-executed reverse sweep. She places it wide of short third, and the ball races away to the boundary.

Loopy one, full and on middle, Imesha flicks but finds mid-wicket this time.

Serves it short and outside off, Dulani cuts but finds the point fielder.

Fullish and on middle, Imesha Dulani uses the angle of the bowler and works it to the right of mid on, for a run. End of a fantastic over from Fatima Sana, with two wickets in it.

Back of a length, around leg, Perera glances it through square leg and opens her account with a single.

No hat-trick. Full and around off, Perera drives it safely to the off side.

OUT! CAUGHT! Fatima Sana is tearing through Sri Lanka! The Pakistan captain is showing no signs of fatigue, and this is now two wickets in two balls. The delivery is back of a length around middle and holds up on Sanjana Kavindi. She checks the shot from the back foot, sending a miscued pop-up towards mid-wicket, where Shawaal Zulfiqar settles underneath it and takes a safe catch. An inspired Sana is on a hat-trick!

OUT! CAUGHT! Fatima Sana wins the battle of captains! A big wicket for Pakistan as the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu departs cheaply. It is not the ideal delivery, full and on the pads, but Chamari goes after it and fails to keep the whip down. The ball balloons towards deep square leg, where Sadaf Shamas gets low and holds on safely. Chamari walks back as a disappointed batter, and Sri Lanka now need 126 from 112 balls.

Sliding down the leg side, on a length, Chamari Athapaththu turns and tries to pull but misses. Not given as a wide.

Nearly drags it on! The arm ball is fired in full around off, and Imesha Dulani goes for the slog-sweep. She gets a thick inside edge, but the ball ricochets off her pads and rolls safely behind her, narrowly missing the stumps.

Floated and full, drifting in around off, Imesha Dulani draws forward and defends.

Short and outside off, Chamari Athapaththu goes back and steers it towards point for one.

Flatter and shorter, around off, Chamari taps it down to the off side and looks for a run, is sent back.

FOUR! CRACKING SHOT! Chamari Athapaththu gets forward to a flighted delivery outside off and drives it with authority. She threads the narrow gap between extra cover and mid off, sending it racing to the fence. Sri Lanka are off the mark in style as the chase gets underway.

Begins with a floated delivery, full and on off, Chamari Athapaththu drives off the front foot but finds mid off.