Ayesha Zafar Stars as Pakistan Edge Sri Lanka Women

Spinners and Ayesha Zafar guide Pakistan to consolation series win.

A Low-Scoring Finish

Pakistan Women defended a low target of 114 to register their first win of the series against Sri Lanka Women in the 3rd T20I at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. A tight and low-scoring encounter that failed to produce a high-scoring show on a slow deck, but one that had it all to determine the series decider.

After two consecutive wins from their three-match T20I series, Sri Lanka made Pakistan fight out an equally low-scoring draw to rubber.

Sri Lanka’s Steady Start

Chamari Athapaththu was the aggressor as Sri Lanka posted a cautious 113 for 6 in reply to Pakistan’s 133 for 4 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Saturday. The opener’s composed 34 off 33 balls, which included five boundaries, guided her team through the innings.

Chamari Athapaththu was well supported by Sanjana Kavindi, who struck a fluent 20 off 18 deliveries. At one stage, Sri Lanka looked set to score more than 140.

The Middle Overs Squeeze

This was the match decider as Pakistan’s spinners pitched a rare squeeze that saw Sri Lanka slip from 79 for 2 to 113 for 6 between overs six and 16. Pakistan women claimed five crucial wickets for 47 runs as their spinners strangled the life out of the Sri Lankan innings.

The hosts were always on the back foot, and what looked like a statement of intent, Pakistan scored a modest 133 for 4 in reply.

Pakistan’s Spin barrage

The 23-year-old seam spinner Momina Riasat was the standout performer as she reaped a maiden 2 for 18 before a part-timer Umm-e-Hani and Nashra Sandhu added 1 for 16 and 1 for 7 respectively. Sri Lanka’s bowlers had failed to respond to the slow and testing pitch while Pakistan’s spinners had read the conditions perfectly.

Zafar’s Heroics

Chasing 114 for victory, Pakistan made a decent start to their innings, but a composed drive from Ayesha Zafar saw the visitors make the best of the conditions. Her presence steadied Pakistan’s innings as the star batter drove late boundaries with timing and power.

Zafar eventually fell to a mistimed hook off Chamari Athapaththu’s bowling, and she made 39 off 31 balls with six fours. Shawal Zulfiqar remained at the crease and hit 21 off 12 deliveries with three fours and a six to turn the game on its head. Zafar and Zulfiqar added 59 for the fifth wicket before the former was run out with 9 needed from 23 balls.

Sri Lanka’s Late Fightback

Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari both took two wickets as Sri Lanka fought desperately to pull off a draw. Dilhari and Athapaththu both bowled well after Pakistan had threatened to pull clear of their rivals. But Pakistan eventually finished 19 balls with Tuba Hassan and Saira Jabeen both running out the last over to clinch the game.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu felt her team hadn’t delivered on their plans, and she wants her bowlers to respond better in future matches. She also lamented the lack of depth in their bowling attack, especially as the young players failed to deliver when it mattered.

“I didn’t play well enough to help my team win the game,” said Zafar, who was named Player of the Match for her 39 and 1 for 6 with the ball. “The pitch didn’t offer the conditions we were looking for, but we fought hard to make the best of the situation.”

What This Means For Both Teams

After posting 133 for 4 in their 3rd T20I against Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s Imesha Dulani has already scored a century in two consecutive T20Is, with her 123 runs in total being the second-highest among all batters.

This is his first hundred as an opener, and he was selected as Player of the Series for his efforts. Meanwhile, Pakistan Women pulled off a winless tour after their first ODI win of the series, leaving Dambulla with some positivity for their next fixtures.