Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women 2nd Semi-Final Full Commentary

Welcome back for Sri Lanka's reply. Fatima Sana leads her troops out onto the park. Chamari Athapaththu walks out to open the innings alongside Imesha Dulani. Dismissed for single-digit scores in her last two outings, the Lankan skipper will be keen to lead from the front in this tricky chase. Pakistan are starting with spin in the form of Sadia Iqbal. Athapaththu is on strike. There is a slip in place. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

The Cha Factor - Chamari Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda were the pick of the bowlers for the island nation, with both accounting for 2 wickets each and being miserly as well. 115 is the highest successful chase of this Asia Cup, achieved by Sri Lanka against Bangladesh. They will have to better that tonight to make it to their third successive final. Fatima Sana looked spent with the humidity but still has a role to play with the ball, and we all know how vital she is to Pakistan's chances. It is all set up to be a tantalising second essay, so stick around.

Cometh the hour, cometh Fatima Sana - In the group-stage clash, Pakistan found the Indian spinners tough to get away, and another test awaited them tonight. Shawaal Zulfiqar showed promise but could not last long enough, and at 52/4, they found themselves in a pickle. In walked the skipper, Fatima Sana, who provided both the steady presence and the injection of impetus the innings needed. Useful stands with Gull Feroza first and then Tuba Hassan helped Pakistan reach 130.

Shawaal reflects on her knock - Shawaal Zulfiqar is happy with her contribution but disappointed not to carry on after the start. She credits the partnership between Gull Feroza and Fatima Sana for helping Pakistan build their innings, while praising the captain's ability to finish strongly. She feels 130 is a very good total on this surface and says her role is to bat with intent, something she remains committed to. Now, she hopes Pakistan can defend the total.

A tale of two halves - 52/4 in the first 10 overs | 78/1 in the final 10 overs. A productive second half has lifted Pakistan to a competitive total. Sri Lanka will be disappointed to have let their grip on the game slip after being in a strong position at the halfway stage, but they will still back themselves to gun down this total. To do so, they will need to pull off the highest successful chase of this Asia Cup.

Fatima Sana looks spent, and understandably so, given how humid it is tonight in Dubai. The square-leg umpire checks with her if she requires any medical attention, but she gives her a nod to signal that she is fine and carries on.

Fatima Sana is down on her haunches and seems to be in some discomfort. It appears to be a hamstring issue with her right leg. She also pulled up during the game against India but stayed on to bowl. Sana is back on her feet and seems fine to continue.

Tuba Hassan has taken a blow to the right thigh and needs medical attention. The magic spray has done its job, and she is ready to resume.

Pakistan Women will be aiming to reach 130 from here. Mithali Ayodhya will bowl the penultimate over. 3-0-20-0 so far for the slingy right-arm quick.

Date with India awaits - That's all from this absorbing contest. The momentum swung from one side to the other, with neither team willing to give an inch until the very end. Now, all roads lead to September 13, when defending champions Sri Lanka Women face India Women in Sunday's grand finale. The action begins at 2.30 pm GMT (8 pm IST), but join us early for all the build-up. Here's hoping for another cracker. Cheers!

Athapaththu backs her side! Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of Sri Lanka Women, is pleased with the way Sri Lanka's bowling unit responded, despite a couple of missed chances in the field. She is particularly delighted to see the younger players stand up when it mattered, singling out Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari for soaking up the pressure and producing a match-winning partnership. Athapaththu believes Sri Lanka have several players capable of winning games on their own, with the bowling unit also faring well. If they can execute their plans in the final, she feels they have every chance of lifting the trophy.

Player of the Match - Fatima Sana may have finished on the losing side, but her individual performance was impossible to overlook. The Pakistan captain produced a superb all-round display, scoring an unbeaten 47 before returning to take four wickets and keep her side in the contest until the very end. Her efforts earn her the Player of the Match award, a fitting recognition of a standout performance in the semi-final. The Pakistan skipper says that the way Harshitha and Kavisha played, they took the game away from Pakistan, and she gives them credit for their performances. She admits the lapses in the field cost them and says there is room for improvement on the batting front. She hopes they can come back as a stronger unit next time around.

Presentation time...

Summary of first inning - It was the same old story of struggle with the bat for Pakistan. They made a poor start in the Powerplay, losing both openers, and found it difficult to build momentum through the first half. The second half was a different story, largely thanks to Fatima Sana, who once again showed why she could perhaps be batting higher up the order. Her partnership with Gull Feroza provided the foundation before Sana and Tuba Hassan finished strongly at the death. Sri Lanka were excellent for much of the innings, but perhaps took their foot off the pedal at the crucial stage. A few lapses in the field and dropped chances allowed Pakistan to recover and reach 130. The 'Cha pair', Chamari Athapaththu and Chamudi Praboda, still left their mark, combining for four wickets while conceding just 49 runs in eight overs.

Sana vs Sri Lanka - Fatima Sana was the one player who refused to let Sri Lanka have things their own way. She had already played a crucial hand with the bat, and then kept Pakistan alive with the ball, striking twice in consecutive deliveries in the first spell, and when Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari threatened to take the game away, she returned to dismiss both. But Pakistan's other bowlers could not sustain the pressure. Then came the 19th over. With 13 needed from 12, Fatima bowled a high full toss that was called a no-ball, and Kaushini Nuthyangana duly deposited it over the fence. The momentum she had worked so hard to build was gone in a flash. Cricket, after all, is rarely won by one player alone.

The winning partnership - Sri Lanka's chase was beginning to drift when Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari came together. What followed was a lesson in composure and intent. They weathered the difficult phase, gradually found their rhythm and began shifting the pressure back onto Pakistan. Harshitha's class stood out as the partnership grew, with the 67-run stand doing serious damage to Pakistan's hopes and taking Sri Lanka to the edge of victory. Yet, the finish still had a twist in store.

Sri Lanka wobbled early - Sri Lanka's chase got off to a poor start, with Chamari Athapaththu falling cheaply once again. In fact, they lost two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the second over bowled by Fatima Sana. The pressure was immense, but Imesha Dulani responded with a few fine strokes and, alongside Hasini Perera, added 26 runs. However, both fell within five balls of each other, leaving Sri Lanka in another precarious position. At the halfway mark, the contest was finely poised. Sri Lanka needed 78 from the final 10 overs, exactly the number Pakistan had managed during that phase of their innings.

Defending champions march on! Sri Lanka Women are in the final! It was anything but a straightforward chase, unlike how it may have looked at the innings break. The Lankans had to dig deep, drawing on every ounce of energy, stamina and class to absorb Pakistan's pressure and turn it back on them. A hard-fought win sends the Islanders into another final, where they will meet India Women in a rematch of last edition's finale.

It's time for the all-important 19th over, and who else but Fatima Sana to take the ball? She already has four wickets to her name and is one strike away from a fifer. Her aim, though, will be to squeeze out as few runs as possible, leaving Pakistan with as many as possible to defend in the final over. 13 needed off 12 balls.

Fatima Sana has removed both set batters in her last over, dragging Pakistan right back into the contest. Sri Lanka now need 22 from 18 balls, and the captain has certainly kept Pakistan interested. The question is, can the other bowlers build on the opening she has created and take Pakistan all the way to the final? Here comes Kaushini Nuthyangana to bat next.

Fatima Sana doesn't take long to break the partnership. But is it too late? With 31 needed from 23 balls and five wickets still in hand, you certainly cannot call it yet. Pakistan have another opening, and Sri Lanka will know there is still plenty of work to do before they can start thinking about the final. Nilakshika Silva walks in next.