Sri Lanka Women shattered Pakistan Women’s dreams for the second time in less than a week when they stormed into Tuesday’s Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games final with an eight-wicket victory on Sunday.

After producing a match-winning 67-run fifth-wicket partnership from 59 balls to earn a come-from-behind four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai, Sri Lanka once again had Pakistan’s measure — this time through a devastating display of power-hitting led by captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Chasing an imposing 178 for victory, Athapaththu led from the front with a breathtaking unbeaten 83 from 50 balls as Sri Lanka raced to 178 for two in 17.5 overs, completing victory with 13 balls to spare.

Athapaththu belted six fours and seven sixes to leave the girls in green shell-shocked. Pakistan had a late opportunity to remove the Sri Lanka captain, but Aliya Riaz dropped a straightforward catch when Athapaththu was on 79 and Sri Lanka were 159 for two.

In a record chase, Athapaththu shared a 95-run second-wicket partnership from 56 balls with Hasini Perera (42) before adding an unbroken 47 from 23 balls for the third wicket with Harshitha Samarawickrama (20 not out).

Perera struck three fours and three sixes as Sri Lanka’s batters collectively hammered 17 fours and nine sixes, compared with Pakistan’s 18 fours and five sixes. A remarkable 355 runs were scored for the loss of just six wickets in 37.5 overs.

Tuesday will mark Sri Lanka’s second successive appearance in an Asian Games final. They will face the winner of the second semi-final between India Women and Bangladesh Women. Sri Lanka lost to India in the gold-medal match at the previous Games.

Earlier, half-centuries from Ayesha Zafar and Shawaal Zulfiqar powered Pakistan to 177 for four — their highest total against Sri Lanka — after they were sent in to bat.

Ayesha struck a blistering 71 from 40 balls with nine fours and two sixes, while Shawaal scored 54 with three fours and two sixes. The pair added 115 from 70 balls for the third wicket — a new Pakistan record for the wicket, surpassing the 109-run partnership between Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof against Bangladesh in 2014.

Ayesha and Shawaal, who came together with Pakistan struggling at 35 for two in the sixth over, took the score to 75 for two at the halfway stage before accelerating to 141 for two after 16 overs.

Captain Fatima Sana then provided the late flourish, striking two fours and a six in an unbeaten 20 from 12 balls, but Pakistan’s imposing total ultimately proved insufficient against Sri Lanka’s relentless assault.

Scores in brief:

1st semi-final – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by eight runs

Pakistan 177-4, 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 71, Shawaal Zulfiqar 54, Fatima Sana 20 not out, Saira Jabeen 17)

Sri Lanka 178-2, 17.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 83 not out; Hasini Perera 42, Harshitha Samarawickrama 20 not out)

2nd semi-final – India Women v Bangladesh Women