Harmanpreet Kaur's India chase a first Asia Cup title since 2022 against holders Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka meet in the Women's Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday with neither side having lost a match in the tournament

The final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium starts at 6.30pm local time, 8pm in India, and pairs the two teams who came through the group stage and the semi-finals unbeaten.

India, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, beat Bangladesh by 40 runs on 10 September. Sri Lanka, under Chamari Athapaththu, came through a far tighter semi-final against Pakistan the following evening.

Sri Lanka are the holders, having beaten India by eight wickets in the 2024 final at Dambulla. That defeat was only India's second in an Asia Cup final; they have won seven of the nine they have contested.

Shafali sets up the semi-final

India batted first against Bangladesh and made 149 for 6, built around 64 from 40 balls by Shafali Verma after Smriti Mandhana fell early.

Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet added to the total in the middle order, and Deepti Sharma closed the innings with an unbeaten 13.

Bangladesh's spinners applied pressure through the middle overs on a pitch that offered India's batters little, and 149 looked a working total rather than a commanding one.

Bangladesh were held to 109. Nigar Sultana made 19 in a late attempt to revive the chase, and Nandani Sharma took a wicket with each of the last two balls of the match.

Deepti Sharma leads the wickets

Deepti Sharma has taken 11 wickets in the tournament at an average of 3.63, more than any other bowler, with returns of 3-0 against Thailand, 3-9 against Hong Kong, China, 2-5 against Pakistan and 3-26 in the semi-final.

Her career haul of 37 Asia Cup wickets is the most any bowler has taken in the competition.

She has been used as an all-rounder throughout. "Whenever I get an opportunity in batting, I always trust that I can contribute in batting also," she said after the semi-final.

Sri Lanka survive Fatima Sana

Pakistan were put in and made 130 for 5, with captain Fatima Sana unbeaten on 47 and Gull Feroza making 32 from 32 balls.

Sri Lanka lost early wickets in the chase before Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari put on 67 to steady it.

Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana saw the remaining runs off with eight balls to spare.

Athapaththu credited her bowlers' discipline for holding Pakistan to a total her side could chase, and singled out the stand that got them there.

"They absorbed the pressure, they took singles and played really good," Athapaththu said of the partnership. "Under pressure, that partnership was match-winning."

Dambulla still to answer for

The 2024 final is the obvious reference point for both dressing rooms. Athapaththu made 61 that night and Samarawickrama and Dilhari finished the chase, the same pair who rescued Sri Lanka in the semi-final.

India's most recent title came in 2022, when they beat Sri Lanka in the final in Sylhet for a seventh Asia Cup.

Their unbeaten run to this final took in group wins over Thailand, Hong Kong, China and Pakistan before Bangladesh were beaten in Dubai.

What the head-to-head says

India have won 25 of the 31 Twenty20 internationals between the two countries. Sri Lanka have won five, and one match produced no result.

Athapaththu is not treating that as settled. "If we can execute our plans in the final, I think we can beat any team," she said.

India, for their part, waited for the second semi-final before planning for either opponent. "We always think as a team how we can do better in each and every game," Deepti said.

The final begins at 6.30pm local time on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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