India A had a strong showing, defeating Sri Lanka A by five wickets in the first semi-final of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok, on February 20. Chasing a target of 119, India A completed the task with a score of 119-5 in just 13.3 overs, securing a spot in the final.
After bowling Sri Lanka A Women out for 118 in 19.4 overs, India’s batters maintained focus to finish the game with 39 balls remaining.
Radha Yadav shines with four wickets, restricting Sri Lanka A to 118
Sri Lanka A chose to bat first after winning the toss, starting steadily with 47 runs in the powerplay. Opener Sanjana Kavindi scored the highest with 31 runs off 35 balls, hitting five boundaries but unable to increase the scoring rate effectively.
Hansima Karunaratne provided some early excitement with 14 runs off nine balls, including three fours, before falling to Tanuja Kanwer. However, the middle order couldn’t take advantage of the strong start.
Captain Anushka Sanjeewani only managed six runs, while Sathya Sandeepani scored 15 off 15 balls. Shashini Gimhani offered a brief spark with 22 runs from 17 balls, but regular wickets took a toll.
The key moment came from Radha Yadav, who took 4 wickets for 19 runs in 3.4 overs. Her left-arm spin effectively dismantled the lower order. Prema Rawat also performed well, with figures of 2 for 9 in four overs, including a maiden over.
Tanuja Kanwer added two wickets, while Minnu Mani and Saima Thakor each took one. Sri Lanka A slipped from 100/5 to 118 all out, losing their last five wickets for just 18 runs.
This disciplined bowling effort set up a straightforward chase for India.
Fast start drives India A’s successful chase
India A began their chase aggressively, scoring 54 runs in the powerplay. Nandini Kashyap was out for 13 in the fifth over, but the run rate remained high.
Vrinda Dinesh made a stunning contribution with 42 runs off just 20 balls, hitting eight boundaries with a strike rate of 210. Her bold batting helped secure a significant advantage for India.
Anushka Sharma supported with 27 runs off 18 balls, including five boundaries. The two added a vital 47-run partnership for the second wicket, pushing India closer to victory.
Even after losing a few quick wickets, including Sharma and Tejal Hasabnis, India stayed well ahead of the required run rate.
Radha Yadav completed an exceptional day with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 31 off 18 balls, with seven boundaries, maintaining a strike rate over 170. Her steady play ensured no surprises in the closing stages. Though Minnu Mani was run out late in the innings, India A easily crossed the finish line in the 14th over.
