In a thrilling start to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, Pakistan delivered an impressive performance, taking down Sri Lanka by 31 runs in the tournament's second match.
Pakistan's Stunning Win
Led by captain Fatima Sana, Pakistan defied the odds, scoring 116 runs in their first innings and then restricting Sri Lanka to a mere 85 runs for nine wickets. Sana made a key breakthrough early on by dismissing Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapathu, which sparked hope for her team to defend their relatively low total.
Pakistan’s bowlers did a fantastic job, keeping the Sri Lankan batters in check and claiming wickets at crucial moments. Only two Sri Lankan players, Vishmi Gunaratne with 20 runs off 34 balls and Nilakshika Silva with 22 runs off 25 balls, reached double digits. Ultimately, Sri Lanka fell well short of the target, ending their innings at 85/9.
Bowling Takes Center Stage
The match was dominated by exceptional bowling from both teams. Sri Lanka’s bowlers also put pressure on Pakistan during the first innings, taking key wickets that limited Pakistan's scoring potential. Sana shone as the top scorer for Pakistan, contributing 30 runs off 20 balls, which proved vital for their final score.
Sri Lankan bowler Athapaththu was nearly unstoppable, finishing with figures of 3 for 18, while Udeshika Prabodhani and Sugandika Kumari also had solid performances, each claiming three wickets as well. Despite their impressive efforts, Pakistan's bowlers ultimately prevailed.
Resilient Bowling Performance
The day didn’t start off well for Pakistan when Diana Baig injured herself while delivering the very first ball, forcing her to leave the field. However, the rest of the team rallied, showcasing strong bowling skills. After Sana dismissed Athapaththu, Omaima Sohail stepped up, taking two important wickets, including those of Harshitha Samarawickrama (7 runs off 10 balls) and Hasini Perera (8 runs off 10 balls), putting Sri Lanka in a tough spot at 35/3.
The Pakistani spinners proved to be a challenge for the Sri Lankan batters, as their chase lost momentum under the Sharjah lights. Sadia Iqbal had the standout performance, taking 3 for 17, while Nashra Sandhu contributed with 2 for 15 from her four overs. With only three boundaries hit throughout their innings, Sri Lanka's loss leaves their Group A campaign hanging by a thread as they face tougher opponents in the matches ahead.
Insights from the First Innings
Fatima Sana, in her first major tournament as captain, enjoyed an encouraging start by winning the toss and opting to bat first. Yet, Sri Lanka’s bowlers quickly took charge, removing both of Pakistan's openers. Sugandika Kumari played a key role, dismissing Gull Feroza (2 runs off 4 balls) and Muneeba Ali (11 runs off 14 balls) during the powerplay.
While the middle order attempted to recover, they faced further setbacks when Athapaththu claimed the wicket of Sidra Amin (12 runs off 10 balls). Both Omaima Sohail (18 runs off 19 balls) and Nida Dar (23 runs off 22 balls) fell victim to Kavisha Dilhari and Udeshika Prabodhani.
Pakistan’s batting strategy became evident when Sana and Aliya Riaz were pushed down the order, indicating their roles as designated 'finishers,' coming in at positions seven and eight. Athapaththu’s quick strikes further hampered their late-game push, dismissing Tuba Hassan and Riaz in consecutive balls, narrowly missing out on a hat-trick when she just missed Diana Baig's outside edge.
Despite the loss of wickets, Sana managed to secure a three-figure score for her team, blasting 30 runs off just 20 balls. Her late surge was crucial, helping Pakistan reach a total of 116 runs, with the final wicket falling on the last ball of the innings.
Conclusion
Pakistan's triumph over Sri Lanka not only marks a memorable start to their World Cup journey but also demonstrates their resilience and strength in both batting and bowling departments. As the tournament progresses, they will look to build on this momentum while Sri Lanka faces the challenge of regrouping after this early setback. With a total of 23 matches scheduled over the next 18 days in Dubai and Sharjah, fans can expect more exciting cricket as the competition unfolds.
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