DAMBULLA: Sri Lanka came up with another strong batting performance to defeat Pakistan by six wickets in the second Women’s T20 International played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday to clinch the three-match series 2-0 with a game to play.
17-year-old left-hander Sanjana Kavindi made it a memorable WT20I debut by top-scoring for her team with 46 off 24 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) to take the Player of the Match award.
Sri Lanka raced to their target of 176 with 14 balls to spare. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu gave them the usual brisk start with 40 off 15 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) despite losing first WT20I centurion Imesha Dulani for five.
Athapaththu fell with 55 on the board but there was no respite for Pakistan as Sri Lanka’s improving middle order took the game away from them. Kavindi’s dismissal didn’t make a difference either, as Harshitha Samarawickrama came out all guns blazing to race to 24 off 11 balls to keep Sri Lanka on course. She finished unbeaten on 37 off 22 balls (8 fours), and even Vishmi Gunaratne’s dismissal for 31 off 29 balls (4 fours) couldn’t prevent the inevitable as dominant Sri Lanka outplayed Pakistan.
Pakistan got off to a rollicking start after opting to bat, with the openers once again delivering as they went on a boundary-hitting spree in the powerplay. The highlight was the third over, in which Shawaal Zulfiqar smashed five boundaries. That start saw Pakistan race to 63-0 after just five overs.
They would have hoped for a total close to 200 after that start, but Sri Lanka managed to pull things back in the second half. Chamodi Praboda got rid of both openers Muneeba Ali for 45 off 30 balls (6 fours, 1 six) and Zulfiqar for 48 off 35 balls (8 fours). From 90 without loss, Pakistan slumped to 129-4. Eyman Fatima gave their innings the final flourish with an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) but Pakistan still managed to post only 175, which was at least 15 short after the start they had.
Sri Lanka, who have already won the WODI series 2-1, now hold onto an unassailable 2-0 lead in the WT20I going into the third and final match at the same venue tomorrow. – [ST]
Scores:
Pakistan Women 175-5 (20) (Muneeba Ali 45, Shawaal Zulfiqar 48, Eman Naseer 21, Eyman Fatima 30*, Chamudi Praboda 2/27)
Sri Lanka Women 178-4 (17.4) (Chamari Athapaththu 40, Sanjana Kavindi 46, Vishmi Gunaratne 31, Harshitha Samarawickrama 37*, Umm-e-Hani 2/28)