Sharjah: In a remarkable display of all-round excellence, Pakistan emerged victorious over Sri Lanka in the second match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Sharjah on Thursday, with captain Fatima Sana leading the charge.
Sana's team defied all expectations to secure a 31-run victory over the Asian Cup Champions, posting a total of 116 in the first innings and subsequently executing a flawless bowling strategy to limit Sri Lanka to 85/9.
Sana, who took two wickets for ten runs, played a pivotal role in dismantling Sri Lanka's opening partnership, setting the stage for her team's successful defense of a relatively modest first-innings total.
Her compatriots also played an impressive role, maintaining a tight grip on the game, denying Sri Lanka any boundaries and securing crucial wickets as the scoring rate escalated.
Only Sri Lanka's first batsman, Vishmi Gunaratne, managed to score double figures with 20 from 34, and Nilakshika Silva contributed with 22 from 25. However, Sri Lanka's chase faltered, finishing on 85/9, 31 runs short of their target. Sadia Iqbal emerged as the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking three wickets.
The match was characterized by the dominance of the ball, with Sri Lanka's bowlers also proving effective in containing Pakistan's batting lineup, which was surprisingly fluid. The skipper, Fatima Sana, demonstrated exceptional leadership, scoring 30 runs from just 20 balls down the order, which proved to be the decisive moment in the match.
Three bowlers stood out, with Chamari Athapaththu on the brink of a hat-trick, ending with figures of 3/18, Udeshika Prabodhani and Sugandika Kumari each taking three wickets - 3/19 and 3/20 respectively. However, their efforts were overshadowed by Pakistan's attacking prowess.
Pakistan's performance was commendable, showcasing their strength and resilience in the face of formidable competition. The victory in Sharjah marks a significant milestone for the team, reinforcing their position as a formidable force in women's T20 cricket.
In the context of the match, a middle-order recovery strategy was unable to exert a significant impact, primarily due to the dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu, who removed Sidra Amin (12 from 10), followed by Omaima Sohail (18 from 19) and Nida Dar (23 from 22), all before the dismissal of Kavisha Dilhari and Udeshika Prabodhani respectively.
The batting strategy of Pakistan was evident, as captain Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz were relegated to the lower echelons of the order, revealing their roles as designated 'finishers', positioned at seventh and eighth, respectively, two places below their initial positions.
However, the potential for a late surge was diminished by Athapaththu's double dismissal, as she eliminated Tuba Hassan and Aliya Riaz consecutively, missing out on a potential trifecta by failing to convert a close-range shot past Diana Baig.
Despite this, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana managed to elevate her team to a score in the three-figure range, amassing 30 runs from just 20 balls, demonstrating her prowess at the lower end of the order. Nevertheless, wickets continued to fall, culminating in Pakistan's dismissal off the final ball of the 20 overs, ending with a score of 116.
The Teams
Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (captain), Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (captain), Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, Omaima Sohail.
Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne (captain), Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (captain), Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani.
