Women's T20 World Cup: Pakistan defeat SL to kick-start campaign
Pakistan's women cricket team has started their campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 with a resounding victory. They defeated the Asia Cup 2024 champions, Sri Lanka, by a significant margin of 31 runs. The match took place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 3. This victory marks a promising beginning for Pakistan in this global tournament.
A low-scoring encounter: Pakistan sets modest target
The match was a low-scoring affair with Pakistan setting a modest target of 117 for Sri Lanka. Despite the slow Sharjah pitch, Sri Lanka could only manage to score 85/9 in response. The game was marked by an impressive performance from the Pakistani spinners who effectively slowed down the pace, leaving Sri Lanka struggling throughout their chase.
Pakistan's shaky start and recovery
Pakistan's innings began on a shaky note with the team struggling at 32/3 by the end of the powerplay. The top-order batters were dismissed early, and partnerships failed to materialize. However, Omaima Sohail and Nida Dar provided some momentum with their scores of 18 and 23, respectively. Despite this, they soon succumbed to the pressure exerted by Sri Lankan spinners.
Captain Sana's match-winning contribution
Just when it seemed like Pakistan might not reach a respectable total, captain Fatima Sana stepped up. She played some big shots and scored a quickfire 30 off 20 balls, including three fours and a six. This innings proved crucial in setting a competitive target for Sri Lanka. Sana's performance was particularly noteworthy given the effective bowling of Sri Lankan spinners Chamari Athaththu and Sugandhika Kumari who took three wickets each.
Sri Lanka's unsuccessful chase and Pakistan's bowling prowess
Sri Lanka's chase was marred by early setbacks, including the dismissal of their key batter Chamari Athapaththu for just six runs. Pakistan's bowlers dominated the game with Omaima Sohail and Nashra Sandhu taking two wickets each in their initial overs. This left Sri Lanka reeling at 35/3 and later 52/5, with only Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshi de Silva managing to reach double figures.
Upcoming challenges for Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Despite their victory, Pakistan face a tough challenge ahead as they prepare to take on arch-rivals India in their next game on Sunday. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be up against tournament favorites Australia, who are aiming for their seventh title in nine editions. Both teams will need to bring their A-game to these upcoming matches.
