Colombo, May 11: Putting an incredible performance away from the IPL’s fanfare, Indian women team won the Asia Cup for the fourth time in a row. Asha Rawat was the architect in chief as Indian eves inflicted a 177 runs defeats to the rival Lankans at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala on Sunday.

Asha became one of the four Shashikala Siriwardene victims after scoring a 114-ball 97 as India, electing to bat first, scored 260-7 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka launched its run chase nicely but suffered a major collapse when it slumped from 50-1 to 83 all out in 35.2 overs.

It was India’s fourth title in a row and highlights it as one of the teams to watch at next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup to be staged in Sydney, Australia.

India won the inaugural Asia Cup event in Sri Lanka in April 2004 when it was a bilateral, best-of-five series as Pakistan did not take part in the tournament. It defended the title in Karachi in January 2006 with 97 runs victory over Sri Lanka and then completed a hat-trick of titles in Jaipur in December 2006 when it won by eight wickets against the same opposition.

Sri Lanka, attempting to end the final jinx, started well when it removed a dangerous Jaya Sharma in the second over. But it turned out to be the only moment of joy as first the India batters sent Sri Lanka bowlers on a leather chase and then the India bowlers mesmerized Sri Lanka batters to wrap up the final without breaking sweat.

Asha Rawat, 26, was in a class of her own as she stroked the ball nicely and found the gaps with precision. The New Delhi-born batter clobbered 12 fours and a six in her flawless innings and featured in two fruitful partnerships that laid the foundation for a competitive total.

For the second wicket with Karuna Jain (28), Asha put on 71 runs and then featured in 91 runs with captain Mithali Raj who went on to add 82 runs for the fourth wicket with Rumeli Dhar from 60 balls.

Mithali departed after scoring a 72-ball 66 that included six boundaries. When the 25-year-old batter reached 62, she became only the fifth player in the history of women’s cricket to complete 3,000 ODI runs after Australia’s Belinda Clark (4,844), Australia’s Karen Rolton (4,261), Debbie Hockley (4,064) of New Zealand and England’s Charlotte Edwards (3,304).

Rumeli was in her usual aggressive mode when she belted six fours in her 31-ball 50.

For Sri Lanka, captain Shashikala Siriwardene was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 8-0-53-4.

In Sri Lanka’s chase, only Chamari Polgampola (23) and Shashikala Siriwardene (20) reached double figures as Pujare Seema, Neetu David and Rumeli shared eight wickets between them. Pujare got 3-10, Neetu bagged 3-11 and Rumeli claimed 2-11.

Rumeli was declared player of the tournament for her effort of 238 runs and eight wickets.

At Welagedara Stadium Kurunegala, India beat Sri Lanka by runs

India 260-7, 50 overs (Asha Rawat 97, Mithali Raj 66, Rumeli Dhar 50, Karuna Jain 28; Shashikala Siriwardene 4-53)

Sri Lanka 83 all out, 35.2 overs (Chamari Polgampola 23, Shashikala Siriwardene 20; Pujare Seema 3-10, Neetu David 3-11, Rumeli Dhar 2-11)

Player of the Match: Asha Rawat (India)

Player of the Tournament: Rumeli Dhar (India)