India Women will take on Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup crown in the final on Saturday.

While India swept away Thailand by 74 runs in the first semi-final on Thursday, the Lankans had a far tougher route to the final as they edged out Pakistan by one run later in the day.

A win on Saturday will give India a record-extending seventh Women’s Asia Cup title.

India were outright favourites against Thailand and the match went by the script.

After being asked to bat first, India posted 148/6. Thailand could only manage 74/9 in reply. The Thai women, who punched above their weight in reaching the semi-finals, fared much better than their previous outing against India in the league stage, where they were all out for 37.

On Thursday, the Thai women gave a better account of themselves with the bat despite being reduced to 21 for 4 in the eighth over.

India’s Deepti Sharma (3/7) did most of the damage with her off-spin, picking up the first three Thai wickets — Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chantham and Sornnarin Tippoch — in consecutive overs.

Medium pacer Renuka Singh (1/6) then cleaned Chanida Sutthiruang as Thailand got reduced to 21/4.

Captain Naruemol Chaiwai (21) and Nattaya Boochatham (21) showed some resistance with the bat with a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket, but it was never going to be enough.

Earlier, Shafali Verma was at her destructive best, top-scoring with a 28-ball 42 with the help of five boundaries and one six.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur looked in good touch during her 30-ball 36, while Jemimah Rodrigues scored 27. Towards the end, Pooja Vastrakar hit a quick 13-ball 17.

Brief scores: India Women 148/6 in 20 ovs (Shafali Verma 42, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Sornnarin Tippoch 3/24). Thailand Women 74/9 in 20 ovs (Deepti Sharma 3/7, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/10). India Women won by 74 runs.

Written with inputs from PTI