Sri Lankan lasses grind Pakistan counterparts in facile 7-wicket triumph
Sri Lanka Women’s Team produced a brilliant performance to register a comprehensive 7-wicket triumph over the Pakistan Women’s Team in the second T20 International played at the NCC grounds on Friday. The home team made light of the match in stopping a high riding Pakistan who were bundled out for 72 in 18.4 overs. The hero was former captain Shashikala Siriwardene who produced a remarkable bowling performance claiming 4 wickets for 9 runs in a spell of 3.4 overs after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. It was Sri Lanka’s first home win over Pakistan and biggest win in respect of balls remaining amounting to 34.
Sri Lanka Women’s Team batters got their act together in full steam scoring 73 for 3 wickets off 14.2 overs at a run rate of 5.09 runs an over in contrast to Pakistan’s 3.85 an over.
It was a brilliant comeback by the Sri Lankan lasses in stopping a high riding Pakistan in breaking an unbroken run of 3 ODI wins and a T20 win. With this win the Lankan lasses drew level 1-all in the 3-match series. It thus left the deciding game to be a crunch contest between the two sides. When Pakistan batted the visitors were a patch of the form displayed previously on tour as the home team kept a tight rein on the batters. At one stage the total read 5 for 47 in 9.4 overs with Siriwardene accounting for the inform Javeria Khan whom she trapped leg before wicket for 3 and Pakistan skipper Bismah Mahroof for 20 having her caught by Vandort. That was in the wake of having first caught and bowled Nahida Khan for 5 after Ranasinghe had made the initial breakthrough having opener Sidra Ameen caught by Chamari Atapattu for 10. From there Pakistan never recovered folding up for 72 with an over and two balls to spare. The home team fielding too was spot on claiming two run outs. Sugandi Kumari lent Siriwardene fine support claiming 2 for 15.
The Sri Lanka Women breezed to 34 for 2 in 5.5 overs with skipper Atapattu making 13 off 6 balls hitting 3 boundaries being the first to exit. She was followed by H.I.S. Mendis who made 11 off 15 while opener M.A.A. Sanjeewani top scored with 20 off 27 with a solitary boundary. R.S. Vandort then stepped in to make an unbeaten 19 off 29 hitting 2 boundaries with Siriwardena on 6 off 9 with a boundary as the Lankans reached the winning target.
By Srian Obeyesekere
