India A Defeat Sri Lanka A by 5 Wickets to Enter Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 Final !
Prime Vista News
India A Women entered the final of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 after a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in Bangkok, led by captain Radha Yadav’s all-round brilliance.
India A Women produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka A Women by five wickets in the first semifinal of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, sealing their place in the final at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Friday.
Captain Radha Yadav was the undisputed star of the match, delivering a match-winning performance with both ball and bat to guide India A into the title clash.
Radha Yadav Leads From the Front
Radha set the tone early with a superb spell of left-arm spin, returning figures of 4 for 19 in 3.4 overs, which dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. She then capped her performance with a calm and confident unbeaten knock of 31 runs off just 18 balls, steering India A home in the chase.
Her contribution underlined her importance not just as a bowler but also as a leader capable of absorbing pressure in crucial moments.
Sri Lanka A Struggle Against Spin
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka A found scoring difficult against a disciplined Indian bowling attack that relied heavily on spin. The Indian spin quartet of Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Tanuja Kanwer and Minnu Mani controlled proceedings from the outset, denying Sri Lanka any sustained momentum.
Sri Lanka A suffered an early setback when Hansima Karunaratne (14) was dismissed by Tanuja Kanwer, triggering a shaky start. Sanjana Kavindi attempted to stabilise the innings with a patient 31 off 35 balls, but she received little support from the other end.
Radha Yadav was relentless through the middle overs, repeatedly breaking partnerships and keeping the scoring rate in check. She was well supported by Prema Rawat, who delivered an economical spell of 2 for 9 in four overs, and Tanuja Kanwer, who claimed 2 for 21 in four overs. Minnu Mani also made an impact, taking 1 for 21 in three overs, including the crucial wicket of Sri Lanka A captain Anushka Sanjeewani.
Unable to recover from the sustained pressure, Sri Lanka A were eventually bowled out for 118 in 19.4 overs, a total that looked below par on a surface offering reasonable assistance to batters.
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India A Chase With Confidence
Chasing a modest target of 119, India A began cautiously but lost Nandini Kashyap (13) early, slipping to 30 for 1 in 4.2 overs. However, the early wicket did little to dent India’s confidence.
Vrinda Dinesh played a decisive innings, scoring a brisk 42 off just 20 balls, while Anushka Sharma complemented her well with 27 off 18 balls. The pair stitched together a vital 48-run partnership, effectively tilting the match firmly in India A’s favour.
Although India A lost wickets of Teja Hasabnis and Minnu Mani after the dismissals of Vrinda and Anushka, there was no panic in the Indian camp. Radha Yadav walked in at a crucial stage and ensured there were no further hiccups, finishing the chase with authority.
India A reached the target in 13.3 overs, winning with five wickets to spare and underlining their superiority in the contest.
Eyes on the Final
With this win, India A advanced to the final of the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, where they will face either Bangladesh A or Pakistan A in the summit clash scheduled for February 22.
The semifinal performance highlighted India A’s depth, particularly in spin bowling and middle-order stability qualities that could prove decisive in the final. For Sri Lanka A, the loss marked the end of a challenging campaign, though their young squad showed flashes of promise throughout the tournament.
As the competition reaches its climax, India A will look to build on this commanding display and convert their momentum into a championship triumph.
