Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team Stuns Sri Lanka with 31-Run Victory in T20 World Cup Opener
ISLAMABAD: In an impressive start to the Women’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s women’s cricket team secured a remarkable 31-run victory against Asian champions Sri Lanka in a low-scoring thriller at Sharjah Stadium on Thursday evening.
Pakistan set a modest target of 117 runs for Sri Lanka to chase. However, the Sri Lankan side struggled to find momentum and was held to 85 for 9, falling short of the target. The star performers for Pakistan were the spinners, with Nashra Sandhu (2-15) and Omaima Sohail (2-17) leading the bowling attack, effectively breaking down Sri Lanka’s batting order.
By the 13th over, Sri Lanka had collapsed to 52 for 5, with the bowlers maintaining tight line and length, making it difficult for the opposition to score.
The critical moment of the match came when ace Sri Lankan player Chamari Athapaththu, who scored just 6 runs, was caught at mid-off by Omaima Sohail off Fatima Saba’s bowling. This pivotal wicket put Sri Lanka under immense pressure, ultimately sealing their fate.
Earlier in the game, Pakistan’s skipper Fatima Sana played a crucial knock, hitting one six and two fours in her 20-ball 30 to push Pakistan’s total beyond 100. Her vital contribution earned her the Player of the Match award. Fatima expressed gratitude to her team for their support, highlighting the importance of teamwork in defending the low target.
“We knew that getting Chamari Athapaththu’s wicket was key. Once we got her out, we knew it wouldn’t be easy for Sri Lanka to chase the total,” said Fatima.
Pakistan’s next game will be a highly anticipated match against arch-rivals India at the Dubai Sports City Stadium on October 6.
