SYLHET-Half-century from opener Harshitha Samarawickrama and top bowling spells from Achini Kulasuriya and Sugandika Kumari helped Sri Lanka clinch their second win in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 after defeating Thailand by 49 runs at Sylhet on Tuesday. 
With this win, Sri Lanka is at third position on the table with four points and two wins in three games. On the other hand, Thailand is at the second-last spot in the table with no wins in both of their matches. Sri Lanka hit 156/5 in their 20 overs, with opener Samarawickrama smashing 81 off just 69 balls. Thipatcha Putthawong (2/26) was the most prolific bowler for Thailand in the match. 
Chasing 157, Thailand did not look threatening for the most part. Chanida Sutthiruang top-scored with 37* but it was not enough to help her side win the match as they fell 49 runs short. Thailand finished at 107/5 in 20 overs. Achini Kulasuriya (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka. 
Earlier, electing to bat first, captain Chamari Athapaththu and Samarawickrama gave Sri Lanka a fantastic start. Spinner Suleeporn Laomi delivered the breakthrough to Thailand, dismissing Athapaththu for 12 off 18 balls and breaking the opening stand of 63 runs. Hasini Perera (6) was run out three overs later, leaving SL at 78/2 in 11.3 overs. 
Samaawickrama brought up her fifty. Sri Lanka were 139/3 in 18.2 overs. De Silva ended Sri Lanka’s innings on a good note with a six on the final delivery, taking her side to 156/5 in 20 overs. She finished unbeaten at 39 off 21 balls with three fours and two sixes. Putthawong grabbed 2 for 26. Samarawickrama’s knock earned her ‘Player of the Match’ title. 
Later, India continued their unbeaten streak at the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup, courtesy a superlative batting show by Jemimah Rodrigues (75*) and Deepti Sharma (64) against UAE that set up the winning total of 178/5. UAE, after being reduced to 5 for 3 inside the opening two overs could never recover and succumbed to a massive 104-run defeat.

Scores in brief

SRI LANKA 156/5 in 20 overs (Harshitha Madavi 81, Nilakshi de Silva 39*; Thipatcha Putthawong 2-26) beat THAILAND 107/5 in 20 overs (Chanida Sutthiruang 37*; Achini Kulasuriya 2-19) by 49 runs.
INDIA 178/5 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 75*, Deepti Sharma 64; Mahika Gaur 1-27) beat UAE 74/4 in 20 overs (Kavisha Egodage 30*, Khushi Sharma 29; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-20) by 104 runs.