On Wednesday in Dambulla, hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh easily defeated Thailand and Malaysia to advance to the women’s Asia Cup T20 semifinals.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced to the semifinals of the women’s Asia Cup T20 event with comfortable victories over Thailand and Malaysia in Dambulla on Wednesday. While Sri Lanka thrashed Thailand by 10 wickets in the final group match of the tournament, Bangladesh hammered Malaysia by 114 runs earlier in the day at the same venue. In the first match of the day, Bangladesh rode on opener Murshida Khatun’s 59-ball 80 and skipper Nigar Sultana’s 37-ball 62 to post a commanding 191 for 2.Before Khatun teamed up with Sultana to sew 89 runs for the second wicket, laying the groundwork for the large score, the 33-year-old wicket-keeper and Khatun shared 65 runs for the first wicket.
After limiting Malaysia to 77 for 8 in 20 overs, Bangladesh easily defeated them and advanced to the semifinals.
Thailand chose to bat in the last group match of the competition, however they could only generate 93 for 7.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai, a wicketkeeper batsman, led Thailand in scoring with a 47 off 53 balls.
The most preferred bowler for Sri Lanka was off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari (2/13).Sri Lanka cruised through the chase, with skipper Chamari Athapaththu (49 not out) and Vishmi Gunaratne (39) remaining unbeaten to lead the island nation home in style.
Thailand’s bowlers were unable to make an impression as the Sri Lankan openers cruised to victory.
Defending champions India will face Bangladesh in the semifinals, while Sri Lanka will play Pakistan on Friday.
