T20 Women: Pakistan stun Sri Lanka in opening day shock

Tournament Title: Women’s T20 World Cup in Sharjah

Pakistan 116 (20 overs): Sana 30 (20); Athapaththu 3-18

Sri Lanka 85-9 (20 overs): De Silva 22 (25); Sadia 3-17

Pakistan won by 31 runs

Scorecard: Final: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – Women’s T20 World Cup, Sharjah.

T20 women opening

Sitting down with my daughter, I advised her as to how she would also have to actively engage in the competition as well as the expectations of her in helping Sri Lanka win against Pakistan. Pakistan once again displayed why they are considered the favorites for this Women’s T20 World Cup over Sri Lanka beating them by 31 runs in a match where runs were at a premium.

Sri Lanka while chasing a target of 117, was down in trouble at 35-3 after losing their captain Chamari Athapaththu who unfortunately scored just six. The team did not overcome lack of her experience.

In such a t20 game where the pitch was sluggish, and batting was difficult like Sri Lanka, De Silva with 22 runs and Gunaratne with 20 remain a batting collapse for the team as Sri Lanka managed only 85-9 in 20 overs with no aggression whatsoever making only three boundaries.

It was the second low-scoring engagement to commence the tournament after the win by Bangladesh over Scotland in the previous match, where slow spin friendly pitches and sultry weather prevailed during all the matches.

Athapaththu registered bowling figures of 3-18 as Pakistan were all out for 116 runs off their last delivery in the innings and she was supported by explosive spinner Sugandika Kumari and seam bowler Udeshika Prabodhani as they both took three wickets too.

Sri Lanka was on top of the game in the initial stages before Pakistan fell to 84-8 within five overs of the end of the innings, and this was before captain Fatima Sana helped the team with a quick knock of 30 runs off 20 balls.

Sana then went on to strike an important blow when she dismissed Athapaththu, in the third over of the chase, whilst keeping spirits high after the side had suffered the loss of pace bowler Diana Baig to injury after just one delivery.

Gunaratne bastioned the effort as the remaining top five batsmen collapsed for single figures but could not get the score ticking, faced with just 11 overs and 47 runs on the board.

Pakistan’s spinners then took advantage of the squeeze on the scoreboard to complete the win, and Sadia Iqbal led with bowling figures of 3-17.

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