Pakistan Women Defeat Sri Lanka by Five Wickets in First ODI
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
The Pakistan women’s cricket team made an impressive start to their ODI series against Sri Lanka, registering a five-wicket victory in the opening match at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Half-centuries from Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin, along with a disciplined bowling performance, guided Pakistan to a comfortable win.
Pakistan Successfully Chase 211
Chasing a target of 211 runs, Pakistan reached 211-5 in 43 overs.
- Gull Feroza top-scored with 78 runs off 77 balls, including 11 boundaries.
- Sidra Amin played a composed innings of 57 runs off 94 deliveries, helping build a solid partnership.
- Ayesha Zafar remained unbeaten on 27, while captain Fatima Sana struck the winning runs.
The victory marked Pakistan’s fifth consecutive win in the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29, moving the team to second place in the championship standings.
Sri Lanka Finish on 210-9
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka made a steady start through Vishmi Gunaratne and captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Athapaththu scored 46, while Hasini Perera and Kavisha Dilhari contributed 35 runs each. Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten with 46.
Pakistan’s bowlers staged an excellent comeback in the closing overs, restricting Sri Lanka to 210-9.
Nashra Sandhu Leads Pakistan’s Bowling Attack
Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu delivered an outstanding performance, taking 3 wickets for 42 runs.
Other notable bowling performances included:
- Tasmia Rubab: 2 wickets
- Umm-e-Hani: 1 wicket
- Syeda Aroob Shah: 1 wicket
Pakistan’s disciplined bowling prevented Sri Lanka from posting a bigger total despite a promising start.
Gull Feroza Named Player of the Match
For her match-winning innings, Gull Feroza was named Player of the Match.
After the game, she expressed her happiness at contributing to the team’s success and said the players remained focused on building partnerships and playing according to the conditions.
She also praised Pakistan’s bowling unit for making a strong comeback after Sri Lanka’s solid start.
Pakistan Eye Series Victory
With a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, Pakistan will now look to continue their winning momentum in the second ODI, scheduled to be played at the same venue.
