Electing to field in the afternoon game of the Wednesday double-header, the visitors posted a strong 120 for 6 from their allotted overs with Perera playing a captain’s knock. Bowlers then backed up with disciplined line and lengths to restrict the home side to 45 for 9 from their quota.

Opening the batting in the absence of Yasoda Mendis, Perera struck a 59-ball 55 to top score for her side. Giving her company at the other end was former captain Chamari Atapattu, who struck a 36-ball 33 during the course of her 77-run opening stand with the captain. Perera did the bulk of the scoring in Sri Lanka’s best opening partnership of the competition thus far.

The standout feature of the captain’s innings was the ease with which she rotated the strike. The duo capitalised on Thailand’s inexperience to convert the singles into twos that only mounted more pressure on the fielders. Atapattu, for the second time in the competition, failed to convert her solid start into a big score as she edged to Sirintra Saengsakaorat on 31.

Perera carried on with Eshani Lokusuriyage for company. In her 24-run partnership with the senior all-rounder, Perera brought up her maiden fifty of the competition and also Sri Lanka’s 100 in the 17th over.

However, once she fell, the visitors lost wickets in heap in the death overs to post 120 for 6. That, however, proved more than sufficient for the home side.

Thailand’s reply was more or less on the expected lines. The pressure of a tall target took its toll on the home side that crawled their way to a mere 45 to lose their third game on the trot. Udeshika Prabodhani (3 for 8) and Inoka Ranaweera (3 for 4) starred with the ball, picking up three wickets apiece.

The wicket fest started as early as the first over when left-arm medium-pacer Udeshika Prabodhani opened her account with twin wickets to leave them reeling at 10 for 3 at the end of their powerplay. At the halfway mark, the hosts had added only 10 more to their total and lost another two of the middle-order batters, following which it became clear that the minnows were just looking to bat out their 20-over quota for a morale boost.

Ranaweera then came into action soon after to put an end to Thailand captain Sornnarin Tippoch’s patience and then added two more to her tally in the 15th over to dent them further. Chanida Sutthiruang hammered a quick 12 off 10 deliveries but it was too late in the day for the home side.

Sri Lanka take on India next, in the afternoon game on Thursday, which will most likely decide the finalist line-up at the sixth edition of Asia Cup.

Scores: Sri Lanka 120/6 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 55, Chamari Atapattu 31; Sainammin Saenya 3/26)

Thailand 45/9 from 20 overs (Chanida Sutthiruang 12; Inoka Ranaweera 3/4, Udeshika Prabodhani 3/8).

Sri Lanka, which managed just 114 for seven after electing to bat, fought back to restrict the favoured South Africans for 104 at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Atapattu led from the front with 52, but none of the other team-mates managed to cross 20 as Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus picked up two wickets each.

South Africa’s openers Dane van Niekerk and Trisha Chetty replied with 50 for no loss by the ninth over before the rest of the batting collapsed against the steady Sri Lankan bowling.

Atapattu had a hand in two of the first three dismissals which reduced South Africa to 52 for three, running out Van Niekerk for 24 before claiming rival skipper Mignon du Pleez leg-before for no score.

At the other end, Eshani Lokusuriyage trapped Chetty leg-before for 26 to open up the middle order.

Sugandika Kumari claimed two for 24 and Udeshika Prabodhani took two for 13 as the rest of the batting floundered to hand the Sri Lankan women their second win in four league matches. Atapattu, who was named player of the match, said she was delighted her team was able to finish the tournament on a high.

“I am proud of my girls,” she said, dedicating the award to her father who encouraged her to play cricket.

“We were not able to put up a good total, but the bowlers and fielders did well. I knew our bowlers had the potential to restrict South Africa.

“We may not be in the semi-finals but this tournament has taught us a lot of positive things which will help us in future.”

Sri Lanka Women 114-7 in 20 overs (Chamari Atapattu 52, Prasadani Weerakkody 15, Eshani Kaushalya 12 n.o., Marizanne Kapp 2/17, Sune Luus 2/20)

South Africa Women 104-7 in 20 overs (Dane van Niekerk 24, Trisha Chetty 26, Sugandika Kumari 2/24, Udeshika Prabodhani 2/13)