HAMBANTOTA: In a thrilling contest at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka showcased their batting prowess, defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in the second women’s One-day International on Saturday. This victory allowed Sri Lanka to level the three-match series at 1-1, setting the stage for an exciting decider.
Pakistan, batting first, set a challenging target of 274 runs, largely thanks to Sidra Amin's remarkable innings. The right-handed batter anchored her team’s performance with an unbeaten century, scoring 100 runs off 120 balls, including 13 boundaries. This marked her seventh ODI century, but despite her efforts, Pakistan’s total of 273 for five was not enough on a batting-friendly pitch.
Sidra's innings was complemented by solid contributions from Ayesha Zafar, who scored 49 runs off 45 balls, and Muneeba Ali, who added 45 runs. Captain Fatima Sana also chipped in with a quick 25 runs off 18 balls, which helped Pakistan reach a competitive total. However, Sidra expressed that the team could have capitalized more effectively against Sri Lanka’s slower bowlers.
“We adjusted well to the conditions, but we could have scored more freely against their slower bowling,” Sidra noted after the match. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and effective communication among the batters, which allowed Pakistan to maintain a steady run rate. “The good thing was that partnerships kept coming, and we focused on taking four, five, or six runs whenever possible,” she added.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase was spearheaded by the outstanding performance of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama. The duo formed a record partnership of 203 runs, which is now the highest for any wicket in women’s ODIs for Sri Lanka and the first time the team achieved a 200-plus partnership in this format. Gunaratne scored 123 runs off 123 balls, while Samarawickrama contributed an equally impressive 100 runs off 119 balls.
The pair's partnership was crucial, especially after Sri Lanka lost their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, early in the innings. Gunaratne reached her century with a flurry of boundaries, and even after her dismissal, Kavisha Dilhari's quick-fire 40 runs off 33 balls ensured that Sri Lanka cruised to victory with 19 balls to spare.
Following the match, Sidra acknowledged the need for Pakistan to refine their bowling strategy ahead of the series decider. “We probably bowled a little too much on the off side. In the next match, we plan to hit the stumps more to restrict their scoring opportunities,” she stated. With the series now tied, Sidra expressed confidence in her team’s ability to compete fiercely in the final match, stating, “Sri Lanka are a very good team, and we will give it everything to win the series.”
This victory not only boosts Sri Lanka’s morale but also sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the series, as both teams prepare for the decisive match.
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