In a low-scoring yet competitive match in Sharjah, Pakistan secured a vital 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 2nd Match of Group A at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled to gain momentum, posting a modest 116 in their 20 overs, a target that ultimately proved beyond Sri Lanka’s reach as they were restricted to 85/9 in their response.
Shaky Start for Pakistan
Pakistan’s batting lineup had a shaky start. Gull Feroza (2) fell in just the second over, caught behind by Anushka Sanjeewani off Sugandika Kumari’s bowling. This early breakthrough was followed by the dismissal of Muneeba Ali (11), who was also caught behind by Sanjeewani off Kumari’s bowling. The wickets continued to tumble as Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, made her presence felt by removing Sidra Amin for 12 with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 32/3 within the powerplay.
Omaima Sohail and Nida Dar then sought to revive Pakistan’s innings, forging a 25-run stand for the fourth wicket. Sohail contributed a patient 18 from 19 deliveries before she was caught by Nilakshika Silva off Kavisha Dilhari’s bowling. Nida Dar, a mainstay in Pakistan’s middle order, was looking well-set on 23, but her dismissal at the hands of Udeshika Prabodhani in the 13th over left Pakistan teetering at 72/5, with their innings at risk of faltering completely.
Fatima Sana’s Critical Cameo
At this critical juncture, Fatima Sana, Pakistan’s captain, delivered an invaluable performance with the bat. Coming in at number seven, she launched a counterattack, scoring a crucial 30 off 20 balls, which included three boundaries and a six. Her aggressive knock helped Pakistan inch towards a respectable total.
While wickets continued to fall around her, Sana’s resistance allowed Pakistan to add 44 runs in the final six overs. Unfortunately, there was little support from the lower order; Aliya Riaz (0) fell for a golden duck, Diana Baig (2) and Sadia Iqbal (2) contributed minimally, and Pakistan were eventually bowled out on the final delivery of their innings for 116.
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Stellar Bowling Effort by Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was disciplined, with Sugandika Kumari, Chamari Athapaththu, and Udeshika Prabodhani each claiming three wickets. Their consistency kept Pakistan under pressure throughout the innings, not allowing any of the Pakistani batters, apart from Sana, to settle for long.
Sri Lanka’s Disastrous Run Chase
In response to Pakistan’s modest total of 116, Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a disastrous start, as their captain and star batter Chamari Athapaththu fell early. Attempting to get the innings underway, Athapaththu mistimed a shot off Fatima Sana’s bowling and was caught at mid-off by Omaima Sohail for just 6 runs in the third over. This early blow set the tone for Sri Lanka’s faltering innings, putting them on the back foot almost immediately.
Harshitha Samarawickrama (7) and Hasini Perera (8), two of Sri Lanka’s more experienced batters, tried to steady the ship but failed to convert their starts into meaningful contributions. Both were dismissed by Omaima Sohail, further complicating Sri Lanka’s chase. Samarawickrama, in particular, looked tentative during her stay at the crease and fell while trying to break the shackles, leaving her side in trouble at 35/3 in 7.5 overs. Hasini Perera’s dismissal soon after compounded Sri Lanka’s woes, as the required run rate began to climb rapidly.
Rapid Loss of Wickets for Sri Lanka
At this point, Sri Lanka were in desperate need of a solid partnership, but Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack kept up the pressure. Vishmi Gunaratne provided some resistance, trying to anchor the innings. However, her struggle to find the gaps and maintain the required run rate was evident.
Her innings of 20 from 34 deliveries was the highest score of the innings, but it came at a time when Sri Lanka needed to accelerate. Gunaratne was eventually dismissed in the 13th over, caught at mid-wicket off Nashra Sandhu’s left-arm spin, leaving Sri Lanka tottering at 52/5.
As wickets continued to tumble around her, Nilakshika Silva fought valiantly to keep Sri Lanka in the contest. Her unbeaten 22 off 25 balls was a lone bright spot in an otherwise crumbling Sri Lankan batting lineup. Silva showed grit, rotating the strike and playing some crisp shots, but with little support from the other end, her efforts were in vain.
The middle and lower order failed to make any meaningful contributions, with Sugandika Kumari (1), Kavisha Dilhari (0), and Udeshika Prabodhani (5) falling cheaply. As the overs ticked by, Sri Lanka found themselves unable to break free from Pakistan’s stranglehold.
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Pakistan’s Memorable Outing with the Ball
Pakistan’s bowlers, led by the all-round brilliance of Fatima Sana, consistently applied pressure and restricted Sri Lanka’s scoring opportunities. Sana, fresh from her crucial innings with the bat, continued her fine form with the ball, finishing with remarkable figures of 2/10 from 2.5 overs. Her accuracy and ability to pick up key wickets were crucial in breaking the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting.
Sadia Iqbal also played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s bowling dominance, picking up 3/17 from her four overs. Her left-arm orthodox spin was highly effective, as she tied down the Sri Lankan batters and took vital wickets at crucial moments. Nashra Sandhu added to the pressure with her own brilliant spell, claiming 2/15, including the important wicket of Vishmi Gunaratne.
Sri Lanka’s innings never found any momentum, as the combination of disciplined bowling and mounting scoreboard pressure proved too much for them to handle. Despite Silva’s fight, the team could only muster 85/9 in their 20 overs, well short of Pakistan’s total.
Fatima Sana’s all-round performance stood out as the highlight of the match. Her crucial 30-run knock helped Pakistan post a defendable total, and her two wickets with the ball sealed the game for her team. For her match-winning efforts, she was deservedly named Player of the Match, playing a decisive role in Pakistan’s vital 31-run victory, which bolstered their campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, was left to rue their missed opportunities, as they struggled to build partnerships and succumbed to Pakistan’s well-rounded performance. The loss marked a setback for Sri Lanka in the group stage, leaving them with much to reflect upon as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
Brief Scores- Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Match 2 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Pakistan- 116 all out in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 30, Nida Dar 23; Sugandika Kumari 3/18, Chamari Athapaththu 3/20) defeated Sri Lanka- 85/9 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 20, Nilakshika Silva 22*; Sadia Iqbal 3/17, Fatima Sana 2/10) by 31 runs.
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