In a much-needed victory, the Pakistan women's cricket team triumphed over their Sri Lankan counterparts in the third T20 International held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday. This win, which came after Pakistan had lost the first two matches of the series, provided a sense of relief for the tourists, who were eager to end the series on a high note.
Pakistan chased down a target of 114 runs, finishing the match with a score of 115 for 6 in just 18.2 overs, achieving the win with 10 balls to spare. Ayesha Zafar played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring 39 runs off 31 balls, which included six boundaries. Her composed innings was crucial in steering Pakistan towards their target.
Opening the batting alongside Ayesha, Shawaal Zulfiqar contributed significantly with a quickfire 21 runs off just 12 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six. Their partnership laid a solid foundation for the innings, allowing Pakistan to maintain a steady run rate throughout the chase.
On the bowling front for Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari each took two wickets, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Pakistan from securing the win. Athapaththu finished with figures of 2 for 20, while Dilhari ended with 2 for 24.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka batted first after winning the toss, managing to score a modest total of 113 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Chamari Athapaththu was the standout performer for the hosts, scoring 34 runs and hitting five fours. However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build on her innings, leading to a below-par total.
Pakistan's bowling attack was led by the impressive Momina Riasat, who claimed two wickets for just 18 runs in her four overs. Her economical bowling was instrumental in restricting the Sri Lankan batters and ultimately contributed to Pakistan's successful chase.
This match served as a consolation for Pakistan after they had previously lost a three-match ODI series to Sri Lanka 2-1. The T20 victory may provide a morale boost for the team as they look to build on this success in future competitions.
Scores in brief:
Sri Lanka: 113-6 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 34, Sanjana Kavindi 20; Momina Riasat 2-18)
Pakistan: 115-6 in 18.2 overs (Ayesha Zafar 39, Shawaal Zulfiqar 21; Chamari Athapaththu 2-20, Kavisha Dilhari 2-24).
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