Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women: Captain Fatima Sana's all-round performances inspire Pakistan's big win

Pakistan Women started the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a big 31-run win against Sri Lanka Women at Sharjah. 

In that Group A match, Pakistan Women were all out for 116 runs in 20 overs after choosing to bat first. In reply, Sri Lanka Women only managed to score 85/9 in 20 overs. 

Kumari set the perfect start for Sri Lanka

Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari took two wickets in her first two overs as Pakistan Women were struggling at 32/3 in the first six overs. Kumari dismissed both the openers Gull Feroza (2) and Muneeba Ali (11). 

Star cricketer Chamari Athapaththu got a wicket in her first over as Pakistan Women lost Sidra Amin (12) in the final over of the powerplay. 

Pakistan Women struggled in the middle overs

Pakistan Women continued losing their wickets in regular intervals as there wasn’t any solid partnership. Omaima Sohail (18) and Nida Dar (23) failed to capitalise on their starts. 

From 11th to 14th overs, Pakistan couldn’t find a boundary but lost three wickets, including Athapaththu’s two successive wickets by dismissing Tuba Hassan (5) and Aliya Riaz (0). 

Captain played a brave knock at the end

While the wickets were falling cheaply at the other end, captain Fatima Sana played a brave knock that helped Pakistan Women set up a challenging total of 116 runs. Before losing her wicket on the first ball of the final over, Sana scored a crucial 30 off 20 balls with the help of three fours and one six. She was the main reason for Pakistan’s 27 runs in the final four overs. 

Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Udeshika Prabodhani (3/20), Sugandika Kumari (3/19), and Chamari Athapaththu (3/18) all picked up three wickets each. 

• It was the first time in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup history that three players took at least three wickets in the same innings.

Chamari Athapaththu’s early dismissal hurt Sri Lanka Women

As the captain Chamari Athapaththu (6) fell early, Sri Lanka Women had a weak start as they scored 26/2 at the end of the powerplay. While Fatima Sana took the wicket of Athapaththu, Omaima Sohail bowled Harshitha Samarawickrama (7). 

Pakistan bowlers controlled the second innings

Sri Lankan batters’ struggle continued after the powerplay. Only the opener Vishmi Gunaratne (20) and Nilakshika Silva (22) reached double-digit scores in that innings. Sri Lanka managed only three boundaries in the entire innings, all before the ninth over. 

Among the Pakistan bowlers, Sadia Iqbal (3/17) got three wickets, while the captain Fatima Sana (2/10), Nashra Sandhu (2/15), and Omaima Sohail (2/17) took two wickets each.  

• It was the third time in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup history that seven bowlers took at least two wickets in a match. The previous two occasions were West Indies Women vs England Women at Basseterre in 2010 and Australia Women vs India Women at Providence in 2018. 
• Winning by 31 runs was the third largest victory for Pakistan Women in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup history.