Sri Lanka Women Beat Pakistan by 4 Wickets to Reach Asia Cup 2026 Final

Sri Lanka Women held their nerve in a tense semifinal at the Dubai International Stadium on September 11, 2026, beating Pakistan Women by four wickets to reach the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final. The defending champions chased 131 with eight balls to spare after overcoming a difficult start that left them 33/4.

Pakistan had posted 130/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Captain Fatima Sana produced Pakistan’s key batting contribution with an unbeaten 47 from 36 balls, before returning with the ball to take four wickets.

Sri Lanka’s chase appeared to be slipping away when Fatima Sana removed Chamari Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi from consecutive deliveries. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari then rebuilt the innings with a crucial 67-run partnership.

Pakistan Women were under pressure early in their innings after losing wickets regularly. They reached 33/2 after six overs and were further reduced to 52/4 by the halfway stage, leaving their middle order with the task of rebuilding the innings.

Fatima Sana provided the response Pakistan needed. Coming in at 52/4, the captain played a composed unbeaten innings of 47 from 36 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. Her ability to find boundaries in the latter stages gave Pakistan a competitive total on a challenging Dubai surface.

Gull Feroza contributed 21 from 32 balls and shared a 40-run fifth-wicket partnership with Fatima. Tuba Hassan then added an unbeaten 12 from 10 balls as Pakistan finished strongly, with Fatima and Tuba putting together another useful stand late in the innings.

Pakistan scored 47 runs during the final five overs to finish on 130/5 after 20 overs. For Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda claimed two wickets each, while Sugandika Kumari picked up one.

Chasing 131 for a place in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for just 33 runs. The early collapse gave Pakistan a strong opening and made the chase far more difficult than the hosts would have wanted.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana played a major role in the early breakthrough. She removed Chamari Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi from consecutive deliveries in the second over, leaving Sri Lanka in serious trouble at the start of their innings.

With wickets falling quickly, Sri Lanka needed a substantial partnership to prevent Pakistan from taking control of the semifinal. The pressure was particularly significant because Pakistan had defended their total through disciplined bowling during the opening phase of the chase.

Sri Lanka’s recovery eventually began through Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari, who combined to change the direction of the chase and bring the defending champions back into contention.

With Sri Lanka four wickets down for 33, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari produced the partnership the defending champions desperately needed. The pair remained composed under pressure and steadily brought Sri Lanka back into the semifinal.

Harshitha scored 36 from 31 balls, while Dilhari added 33 from 33 balls. Their 67-run fifth-wicket stand shifted the momentum towards Sri Lanka and reduced the target to a manageable equation.

The partnership was particularly important because Pakistan had already exposed Sri Lanka’s top order. Instead of allowing the required run rate and pressure to build, Harshitha and Dilhari rotated the strike and took advantage of scoring opportunities.

Their stand ultimately took Sri Lanka to 100 before Pakistan found another opening. It was the foundation that gave the lower order a realistic chance of completing the chase.

Just when Sri Lanka appeared to have taken control of the chase, Fatima Sana produced another decisive spell. The Pakistan captain dismissed Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari in the same over, ending the 67-run partnership that had transformed Sri Lanka’s position.

The double strike left Sri Lanka at 109/6 with 22 runs still required from 18 balls. Pakistan suddenly had another opportunity to defend their total, while Sri Lanka’s lower order faced the pressure of finishing a semifinal chase.

Fatima’s individual contribution was remarkable throughout the match. After scoring an unbeaten 47 from 36 balls to lift Pakistan to 130/5, she returned with the ball to finish with 4/38 from 3.4 overs.

Her all-round performance earned the Player of the Match award despite Pakistan ultimately falling short. However, Sri Lanka still had enough batting resources left to complete the chase in the final two overs.

Sri Lanka needed 22 runs from the final 18 balls after Fatima Sana’s double strike, but the defending champions did not panic. Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana took responsibility for the finish and kept the required rate under control.

Silva remained unbeaten on 18 from just 10 balls, while Nuthyangana scored an unbeaten 10 from four balls. Their late acceleration ensured that Pakistan’s excellent fightback did not force the match into the final over.

Sri Lanka reached 134/6 in 18.4 overs, winning by four wickets with eight balls remaining. The result completed a remarkable recovery after their early collapse to 33/4.

The victory also secured Sri Lanka’s place in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, where they will face India. For Pakistan, Fatima Sana’s outstanding all-round display was not enough to prevent elimination from the tournament.

Sri Lanka’s victory was shaped by their ability to recover after losing four wickets for only 33 runs. Pakistan had made the early advantage count, but Sri Lanka’s middle order absorbed the pressure and rebuilt the chase when the match appeared to be slipping away.

Harshitha and Dilhari changed the chase

Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari combined for a 67-run fifth-wicket partnership. Their stand provided stability after the top-order collapse and moved Sri Lanka into a position from which the lower order could finish the match.

Late batters handled the pressure

Pakistan briefly regained control when Fatima Sana dismissed both Harshitha and Dilhari in the same over. However, Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana responded with an unbeaten finishing partnership to take Sri Lanka over the line with eight balls left.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept Pakistan within reach

Sri Lanka restricted Pakistan to 130/5 despite Fatima Sana’s unbeaten 47. Chamari Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda claimed two wickets apiece, helping prevent Pakistan from setting a substantially higher target.

Sri Lanka Women have secured their place in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final after completing a four-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai. The result keeps their title defense alive and puts them one win away from another Asia Cup trophy.

Sri Lanka will face India Women in the final on September 13 at the Dubai International Stadium. India booked their place in the title clash after defeating Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semifinal.

The final will bring together the two sides that have progressed through the knockout stage, with India entering the match unbeaten in the tournament and Sri Lanka arriving after a dramatic semifinal recovery against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka Women will face India Women in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final on September 13 at the Dubai International Stadium. The defending champions will enter the title clash after surviving a major test against Pakistan in the semifinal.

India reached the final by defeating Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semifinal. They have remained unbeaten in the tournament, setting up a difficult challenge for Sri Lanka in the championship match.

For Sri Lanka, the key takeaway from the semifinal will be their ability to recover under pressure. After falling to 33/4, the middle order rebuilt the innings before the lower order completed the chase with eight balls remaining.

The final will decide whether Sri Lanka can successfully defend their Asia Cup title or India can complete an unbeaten campaign with the championship trophy.

This report is based on the Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women second semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, played on September 11, 2026, at the Dubai International Stadium.

• ICC: Match report covering Sri Lanka’s semifinal victory and qualification for the final.
• Match Scorecard: Scorecard and player statistics used to verify the innings and bowling figures.
• Cricbuzz: Ball-by-ball commentary and match progression used for key moments of the chase.

Statistics, scores and match events are presented as reported by the cited sources. The article is editorial cricket coverage and does not guarantee any future match result.

Sri Lanka’s victory over Pakistan was ultimately decided by their ability to recover from 33/4. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari rebuilt the chase before Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana calmly finished the job.

Pakistan had several opportunities to regain control, particularly through Fatima Sana’s outstanding all-round performance. Her unbeaten 47 and four wickets kept the semifinal competitive until the closing stages, but Sri Lanka held their nerve when it mattered most.

The defending champions now move into the Asia Cup 2026 final with momentum behind them after one of the tournament’s most dramatic knockout wins.

This match report was prepared by the 99ExCh cricket editorial team using verified match details, scorecard information and established cricket coverage.

Match information and statistics are checked against available cricket scorecards and reputable cricket reporting sources before publication. Any subsequent update to the article should reflect verified developments from the tournament.