INDW vs SLW Final: India produced a dominant performance in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs after setting a challenging target of 184 runs. The biggest story of the match was India’s explosive opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who put together 129 runs for the first wicket.
After India posted 183/5 in 20 overs, Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum during the chase and were eventually bowled out for 111. The result gave India another Women’s Asia Cup title and completed a memorable final for the Indian team.
The Real Story Was Bigger Than the 129-Run Opening Partnership
The most eye-catching number from the final was 129, but the partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana was only the beginning of India’s dominant performance.
Shafali and Mandhana completely changed the match during the powerplay and gave India a platform from which the team could attack Sri Lanka throughout the innings.
India’s Opening Partnership
| Batters | Runs | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | 68 | 39 balls, 9 fours and 2 sixes |
| Smriti Mandhana | 59 | 39 balls, 5 fours and 3 sixes |
| Opening Partnership | 129 | India’s first-wicket stand |
Shafali Verma scored 68 runs from 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Her strike rate was 174.36.
At the other end, Smriti Mandhana scored 59 runs from 39 balls. She hit five fours and three sixes and recorded a strike rate of 151.28.
The partnership gave India complete control of the final during the first half of the match.
Shafali Verma Creates History With a 24-Ball Fifty
Shafali Verma was one of the biggest reasons behind India’s strong start. She completed her half-century in just 24 balls, making it one of the fastest fifties in Women’s Asia Cup history.
| Shafali Verma’s Innings | Figures |
|---|---|
| Runs | 68 |
| Balls | 39 |
| Fours | 9 |
| Sixes | 2 |
| Strike Rate | 174.36 |
| Fifty | 24 balls |
The performance was particularly significant because it came in a final against Sri Lanka. Shafali did not simply score quickly; she put Sri Lanka’s bowling attack under pressure from the beginning.
Her aggressive approach also allowed Mandhana to play her natural game at the other end.
India Changed the Match During the Powerplay
India had already scored 57 runs from the first six overs, giving them a strong foundation for the remainder of the innings.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack struggled to contain the Indian openers during the early overs. Once the powerplay ended, India’s scoring rate continued to put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers.
| Powerplay Statistic | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Score | 57/0 | 38/1 |
| First-Wicket Partnership | 129 runs | — |
| Key Batters | Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana | — |
After the powerplay, India’s lead continued to grow. The partnership between Mandhana and Shafali eventually took India to 129 before both batters were dismissed.
India’s 183-Run Total Put Sri Lanka Under Pressure
After the explosive start, India lost both openers but still managed to maintain a strong scoring rate during the final overs.
Shafali was dismissed for 68, while Mandhana departed after scoring 59. Richa Ghosh contributed 17 runs, while Harmanpreet Kaur added 14.
Gunalankalini then played an important late cameo, scoring 15 runs from just five balls and helping India reach 183.
India’s Final Score
| Team | Score | Overs | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 183/5 | 20 | 9.15 |
India’s final score of 183/5 meant Sri Lanka needed 184 runs to win the final.
Shree Charani Builds a ‘Spin Wall’
Sri Lanka needed a strong start in the chase, but India’s spinners made that extremely difficult.
After the powerplay, Sri Lanka were 38/1. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne tried to build a partnership, but India’s bowlers kept the pressure on.
Shree Charani emerged as one of the biggest match-winners for India. She bowled four overs and conceded only 20 runs while taking four wickets, including a maiden over.
Shree Charani’s Bowling Figures
| Bowling Statistic | Shree Charani |
|---|---|
| Overs | 4 |
| Runs Conceded | 20 |
| Wickets | 4 |
| Maiden Overs | 1 |
Deepti Sharma also played an important role with the ball, taking three wickets while conceding 19 runs in her four overs.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shree Charani | 4 | 20 | 4 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 19 | 3 |
Together, the two bowlers put Sri Lanka under enormous pressure and turned India’s advantage into a decisive lead.
Chamari Athapaththu Was Sri Lanka’s Main Resistance
For Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu was the team’s leading scorer. She scored 36 runs and tried to keep the chase alive.
Athapaththu faced 32 balls and hit four fours and two sixes. However, she did not receive enough support from the other end to keep Sri Lanka in contention.
Sri Lanka’s Top Performers
| Player | Runs | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Chamari Athapaththu | 36 | 32 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes |
| Vishmi Gunaratne | 20 | Second-highest scorer |
| Nilakshika Silva | 22 | Late contribution |
Once Athapaththu was dismissed, Sri Lanka’s chase lost further momentum and the Indian bowling attack quickly moved towards the finish.
Sri Lanka Bowled Out for 111
Sri Lanka eventually collapsed and were bowled out for 111 runs.
| Team | Score | Overs | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 111 all out | 20 | 5.55 |
India had scored 183/5 at a run rate of 9.15. Sri Lanka managed only 111 runs at a run rate of 5.55.
The difference in scoring rate shows how strongly India controlled both halves of the final.
India’s 72-Run Victory: The Numbers Tell the Story
The final can be understood through a few important numbers: India’s 183 runs, Sri Lanka’s 111, and the 129-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.
| Match Statistic | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 183/5 | 111 all out |
| Run Rate | 9.15 | 5.55 |
| Powerplay Score | 57/0 | 38/1 |
| Highest Individual Score | Shafali Verma – 68 | Chamari Athapaththu – 36 |
| Most Wickets | Shree Charani – 4 | — |
| Victory Margin | 72 runs | — |
| Opening Partnership | 129 runs | — |
2024 Final Rematch Adds Another Layer to the Story
There was also an interesting historical angle to the final.
In the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka defeated India to win the tournament. This time, the two teams met again in the final, but the result was completely different.
India first scored 183 runs and then restricted Sri Lanka to 111, completing a 72-run victory.
| Final | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final | Sri Lanka defeated India |
| 2026 Women’s Asia Cup Final | India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs |
That made the latest final more than just another tournament match. India also had an opportunity to respond after the previous final between the two teams.
The Biggest Takeaway From the Final
If the entire match is reduced to a few numbers, the story becomes very clear.
129 vs 111
| Key Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 129 | Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s opening partnership |
| 111 | Sri Lanka’s total score |
| 183 | India’s final total |
| 72 | India’s victory margin |
| 4 | Wickets taken by Shree Charani |
| 3 | Wickets taken by Deepti Sharma |
India’s opening pair took the game away from Sri Lanka with an aggressive 129-run partnership, while the bowlers ensured that Sri Lanka never came close to matching India’s scoring rate.
Shafali’s explosive start, Mandhana’s support, and the spin bowling of Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma combined to give India control of the final.
One-Line Summary of the Final
Shafali-Mandhana’s 129-run opening stand gave India the platform, Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma finished the job, and India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift the Women’s Asia Cup.
Match Summary
| Category | India | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score | 183/5 | 111 all out |
| Overs | 20 | 20 |
| Run Rate | 9.15 | 5.55 |
| Top Scorer | Shafali Verma – 68 | Chamari Athapaththu – 36 |
| Second-highest Scorer | Smriti Mandhana – 59 | Nilakshika Silva – 22 |
| Best Bowler | Shree Charani – 4 wickets | — |
| Second-best Bowler | Deepti Sharma – 3 wickets | — |
| Victory Margin | 72 runs | — |
| Opening Partnership | 129 runs | — |
India’s victory over Sri Lanka was built on two completely different phases of the game.
First, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced an outstanding 129-run opening partnership that pushed India’s scoring rate to another level. Shafali’s 68 from 39 balls and Mandhana’s 59 from 39 balls gave India the foundation for a total of 183/5.
Then came India’s bowlers. Shree Charani claimed four wickets, while Deepti Sharma took three wickets to prevent Sri Lanka from building a serious chase.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111, giving India a 72-run victory.
The final therefore belonged to both India’s aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. The 129-run opening stand may have grabbed the headlines, but India’s spin attack was equally important in turning a strong total into a comfortable victory.
Final Score
India: 183/5 in 20 overs
Sri Lanka: 111 all out in 20 overs
India won by 72 runs.
Key Players
Shafali Verma: 68 runs
Smriti Mandhana: 59 runs
Shree Charani: 4 wickets
Deepti Sharma: 3 wickets
Chamari Athapaththu: 36 runs
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