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It’s Shafali vs Athapaththu as Sri Lanka seek to stop India juggernaut
It’s a rematch of the 2023 Asian Games final as India meet Sri Lanka with gold on the line once again. Both sides have comfortably made the final. India brushed aside Japan and Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, while Sri Lanka did the same against Malaysia and Pakistan.
There is plenty of familiarity too, with the sides having met less than ten days ago in the Women’s Asia Cup final. India cruised to a 72 run victory that day and will again start as favourites to defend their Asian Games gold.
If Sri Lanka are to find a weakness in this India batting line-up, it may lie in the middle order. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 40 in the semi-final but has struggled for fluency of late, while G Kamalini and Bharti Fulmali have returned underwhelming numbers despite getting opportunities higher up the order. Getting to them, though, means finding a way past Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, both of whom have form and recent centuries on their side, while Richa Ghosh remains capable of changing an innings quickly down the order.
Chamari Athapaththu remains Sri Lanka’s biggest match-winner, but she has received more support from the top order recently, with Hasini Perera contributing a 26-ball 42 against Pakistan, Kavisha Dilhari a 27-ball 44* against Malaysia and Harshitha Samarawickrama quick cameos in both games. How Sri Lanka handle India’s spinners could be central to the final, particularly with Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani among the wickets, and before that there is Nandani Sharma’s new-ball threat to negotiate.
Sri Lanka know what happens when India are allowed to dictate a game. Their best chance in Nagoya may come from putting India under pressure early on, and whether that’s with bat or ball will depend on which way the coin falls at the toss.
Should the game be a washout, like the men’s final in 2023 was, the higher-seeded team (India) will take the gold medal.
The two teams have met 32 times in T20Is, with India winning 26 games, Sri Lanka winning five, and one match having no result. Sri Lanka have lost their last seven T20Is against India and won only once in their last 11 meetings.
The two most destructive batters on either side could have an outsize influence on the final. Athapaththu has smacked 63 and 83 not out in her two outings at these Asian Games while also returning figures of 2 for 3 and 1 for 30. Shafali had scores of 64 and 68 in her last two outings before the Asian Games, and has followed those up with unbeaten scores of 40, in a chase of 57 against Japan, and 100 against Bangladesh. Given the dimensions of the ground in Nisshin, either could quickly take the final away from the opposition.
Both teams have fully fit squads, and fielded their first-choice XIs in the semi-finals.
India (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma.
Sri Lanka (probable): Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Rashmika Sewwandi, Mithali Ayodhya, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari.
(Cricinfo)
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
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Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
Justice Corea appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal
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India funding 13 new bridges, Moragahakanda structure receiving priority
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