DAMBULLA: Skipper Bismah Maroof scored a fifty and Sana Mir bagged four wickets as Pakistan women beat Sri Lanka women by 94 runs in the second of the three-match Twenty20 International series here on Thursday to seal the series 2-0.

The win took Bismah’s side to the top half of the ICC Women’s Championship table.

Opting to bat, Pakistan saw slow starts from openers Nahida Khan (29) and Muneeba Ai (31) before they were sent back by medium-pacers Ama Kanchana and Sripali Weerakkoddy, respectively, by the 20th over.

The innings was then brought under control by Bismah, who struck nine fours and a six to register her 12th ODI half-century.

Bismah’s 89 off 90 balls gave Pakistan’s run rate a major boost along while lower-order contributions from Nida Dar and Sana’s 25-ball 27 helped Pakistan post a decent total.

Weerakkoddy finished with 2 for 46 from her ten overs.

Sri Lanka’s chase wobbled as early as the fifth over when Nipuni Hansika was run-out by Muneeba for 5 off 16.

Captain Chamari Atapattu scored a quick 24 off 23 but she fell to Nashra Sandhu’s left-arm spin in the ninth over and four wickets from Sana had them in serious trouble at 67 for 6.

Chamari Polgampola, Kanchana and Weerakkoddy steered the score past 100 before a last-wicket stand of 50 runs helped them to 156 but they were bowled out in 37 overs.

Sana finished with impressive figures of 10-3-32-4 and Nahida Khan took four catches in the match.

The third ODI will be played on Saturday at the same venue.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2018