India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has lavished praise on Shafali Verma after the opener starred in the team’s Women’s Asia Cup triumph, saying she could not have asked for more from her.
The final in Dubai
India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Stadium to secure an eighth Asia Cup crown and a fourth in the T20 format. Batting first, they made 183 for 5. Shafali hit 68 from 39 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, and Smriti Mandhana contributed 59.
Shafali’s fifty came off just 24 balls, the quickest in the history of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. The 129-run opening stand with Mandhana is the highest for any wicket in the tournament’s history.
With the ball, Shree Charani took four wickets and Deepti Sharma three as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 111.
Captain’s verdict
Harmanpreet said it was pleasing to see a player of Shafali’s calibre take responsibility and contribute with both bat and ball, adding that she was very happy with how she had played.
Shafali ended as the leading run-scorer with 236 runs in five innings, and she also picked up two wickets.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar also singled out the opening partnership, noting how the contrasting styles of Shafali and Mandhana put opposition attacks under pressure.
