Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have both secured their spots in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup 2024 after defeating Thailand and Malaysia respectively. Sri Lanka had a comfortable 10-wicket victory, while Bangladesh won by a convincing 114-run margin. Both matches took place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, ensuring their spots in the upcoming semifinal matches on July 26.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Seal Semifinal Berths in Women's Asia Cup 2023
The Sri Lanka and Bangladesh women's cricket teams have booked their places in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, following impressive victories over Thailand and Malaysia, respectively.
Sri Lanka's Dominance
Sri Lanka cruised to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Thailand on Thursday (July 20). Thailand won the toss and elected to bat first but could only muster a paltry 84 runs in their 20 overs. Sri Lankan bowlers Nilakshi de Silva and Oshadi Ranasinghe led the charge, taking three wickets each.
In reply, Sri Lanka's opening batters Harshitha Madavi and Chamari Athapaththu chased down the target effortlessly. Madavi hit an unbeaten 55, while Athapaththu contributed an unbeaten 26, securing victory with 5.5 overs remaining.
Bangladesh's Emphatic Win
Bangladesh followed suit on Friday (July 21), thumping Malaysia by 114 runs. Malaysia managed only 107 runs in their innings, with Nigar Sultana claiming impressive figures of 3-16 for Bangladesh.
In response, Bangladesh batters put on a dominant display, amassing 221 runs for the loss of three wickets. Fargana Hoque Pinky top-scored with 64, while Shamima Sultana added 47 and captain Salma Khatun contributed an unbeaten 44.
Semifinal Prospects
With their victories, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have secured their places in the semifinals, which will take place on July 26. The opponents for the semifinals have yet to be confirmed.
Background
The Women's Asia Cup is an international cricket tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The inaugural tournament was held in 2004, and the 2024 edition is the eighth installment of the competition.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are both former winners of the Asia Cup. Bangladesh won the tournament in 2018, while Sri Lanka lifted the trophy in 2012.
Top 5 FAQs
Who are the captains of the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh women's cricket teams?
What is the format of the Women's Asia Cup 2024?
Where is the Women's Asia Cup 2024 being held?
When did Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualify for the semifinals?
Who were the leading wicket-takers in the Sri Lanka-Thailand and Bangladesh-Malaysia matches?
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.
The Mumbai Indians started their IPL campaign with an 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, with 23-year-old pacer Ashwani Kumar stealing the spotlight with his impressive performance. MI skipper Hardik Pandya praised the team's scouting efforts for discovering Kumar's talent, and highlighted his crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock as the game-changers for the team. Fans can catch all the latest updates from IPL 2025 on News24, and follow them on social media for breaking news and updates.