Pakistan Women’s Team win first ODI by 69 runs

The Pakistan Women’s team defeated the Sri Lanka Women’s team by 69 runs in the first of three 50-over internationals at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today. Pakistan Women totaled 250 off 50 overs and dismissed their Sri Lankan counterparts for 181 off 45.2    overs. A highlight of the match was an unbeaten 113 by Javeria Khan off 142 balls containing 15 boundaries.

Chasing 251 for victory at a run rate of 5.09 Sri Lanka recovered from 1 for 0 on a 51-run second wicket alliance between skipper Chamari Atapattu and Nipuni Hansika who was next out for 18 off 25 deliveries with 3 boundaries. Atapattu went on to top score with 46 off 57 deliveries hitting 6 boundaries and a six. Atapattu added a further 33 for the third wicket with M.A.D.D. Surangika who made 13 off 38. Atapattu was third out with the total on 84 off 18.2 overs. From there Pakistan grabbed three quick wickets with Sri Lanka on 106 for 6. Sri Lanka went on to recover from 124 for 7 to 164 on a 40-run eighth wicket partnership between former captain Shashikala Siriwardena and 17-year old school girl debutant Kavisha Dilhari who was run out for a plucky 14 off 23 going for a second run. She hit a solitary boundary in lending support to Siriwardena who was on 32 at the time. Siriwardena was last out for 44 off 74 balls hitting 6 boundaries.

 Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 17 off 5.2 overs. Sana Mir took 2 for 29.

Pakistan, who were put into bat, did not have the best of starts slipping to 4 for 72. But Javeeria Khan steadied the innings with a calculated knock sharing in a fifth wicket alliance of 72 with Nida Dar (34, 43b, 2×4) as Pakistan reached 144 for 5 in 35.2 overs. Khan added a further 46 for the sixth wicket with Sana Mir (27, 31b, 5×4) and a further unbroken 60 runs for the seventh wicket Natalia Pervaiz 21 (20b, 1×4, 1×6). Shashikala Siriwardena claimed 2 for 40 and Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Atapattu 2 for 48.

By Srian Obeyesekere

-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-