India, Sept. 20 -- Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front to help her team enter the final and dream about winning the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The left-handed experienced batter played an unbeaten 83-run knock off 50 balls to help Sri Lanka chase down the target of 178 with eight wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare against Pakistan at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin on Sunday. Pakistan will now play for bronze with either India or Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Chasing 178, Sri Lanka got off to a flier Imesha Dulani, and she raced to 26 off 21 balls. However, just like numerous previous occasions, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana rose to the occasion, providing the first breakthrough.

Chamari then took the matter into...