Pakistan secured a hard-fought 31-run victory against Sri Lanka in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024, securing their first-ever win over the current Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in four attempts. On a slow and low Sharjah pitch, Pakistan’s total of 116 proved just enough as Sri Lanka’s response faltered in the face of tight spin bowling.
Pakistan 116 (Sana 30, Dar 23, Athapaththu 3-18, Sugandika 3-19, Prabodhani 3-20)
Sri Lanka 85 for 9 (Silva 22, Iqbal 3-17)
Pakistan won by 31 runs
Pakistan’s Fragile Total
Batting first, Pakistan struggled to find momentum, posting 116 all out in 19.4 overs. Their top-order was unable to capitalize on any substantial partnerships, with none of the top six surpassing 23 runs. Captain Fatima Sana, batting at No. 7, was the team’s highest scorer with a gritty 30 off 20 balls. Her efforts proved crucial as Pakistan struggled to accelerate, with Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by captain Chamari Athapaththu, left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari, and left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani, each picking up three wickets.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were impressive on a pitch that favored spin and low bounce, and they applied constant pressure, ensuring Pakistan never fully broke free. However, their efforts were undermined by Pakistan’s determination to hang in there, with Sana’s late contribution being a rare bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming innings.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles with the Bat
Chasing 117, Sri Lanka quickly found themselves in trouble as they were undone by Pakistan’s spin attack. Offspinner Omaima Sohail was particularly difficult to get away with, with the Sri Lankan batters often too early into their shots due to the slow nature of the pitch. Sri Lanka were reduced to 52 for 5 by the 13th over, with Pakistan tightening their grip as wickets continued to fall.
Sri Lanka’s chase never really got off the ground, with only Nilakshika Silva’s 22 standing out in an otherwise listless effort. Their innings collapsed under the pressure, and despite some resistance from lower-order batters, Sri Lanka finished on a disappointing 85 for 9. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Sana’s intelligent captaincy and her offspin, kept Sri Lanka firmly on the back foot throughout the innings.
Key Moments
The turning point came when Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, took matters into her own hands. With Diana Baig forced off the field after just one ball due to injury, Sana bowled herself into the attack and made an immediate impact, dismissing Sri Lanka’s captain Athapaththu. Sana’s wicket of Athapaththu, who was caught at extra cover by Omaima Sohail, signaled the beginning of Sri Lanka’s collapse.
Despite a valiant effort by the Sri Lankan bowlers, the batters could not get going, and Pakistan’s spin trio—Sana, Sohail, and Nashra Sandhu—dominated. Sri Lanka’s only real resistance came from the 19-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, but she was dismissed after an ill-fated shot that ended in a catch at long-off, leaving Sri Lanka 52 for 5 and all but sealing the game for Pakistan.
The Battle of Boundaries
On a day when scoring boundaries was a rare feat, Pakistan managed three sixes in their innings, with Muneeba Ali providing the first of the tournament, sending Prabodhani’s delivery 63 meters over midwicket. Sri Lanka, however, managed only three fours in their entire innings, as the slow pitch made it increasingly difficult to clear the boundary.
The lack of big shots underlined the overall slow-scoring nature of the match, with both teams struggling to keep up with the required rate.
Also read: Pakistan Cricket Team Faces Tough Decision on White-Ball Captaincy Amid Heavy Schedule
Looking Ahead
While Pakistan will take confidence from this win, they will need to improve their batting if they are to contend with stronger opposition in the group stages. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting frailties, especially against spin bowling, as they look to bounce back in their next match.
In the end, it was Pakistan’s superior spin bowling and a vital contribution from their captain, Sana, that saw them through to a memorable victory in their opening match of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.
