KARACHI: In-form opener Sidra Ameen smashed a blistering ton before medium-pacer Fatima Sana bagged four wickets, helping Pakistan to a 73-run win in the second One-day International and an unassailable series lead over Sri Lanka here at the Southend Club on Friday.

Sidra, who scored 76 while chasing in the first ODI, was instrumental in helping Pakistan post 253-2 after the hosts won the toss and decided to bat first.

The right-hander became only the second player to score two hundreds for Pakistan, when she plundered the Sri Lankan bowlers for 123 runs off 150 balls with the help of 11 boundaries before losing out to spinner Kavisha Dilhari.

“It was a tough wicket but the last innings gave me confidence,” Sidra, who was assisted by some sloppy fielding by Sri Lanka, said after the match. “It was coming off the bat well.”

Sidra was given full support by fellow opener Muneeba Ali (56 off 100) and captain Bismah Maroof, who scored an unbeaten 36 off 43 balls, continuing her impressive run of form since the Twenty20 series.

Pakistan’s performance with the ball was as good as that with the bat and it was the 2021 ICC Women’s Emerging Player of the Year Fatima, who gave the hosts an early breakthrough when she made struggling opener Hasini Perera play one into the hands of Nida Dar.

Five overs later, Dar removed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athhtapathu before off-spinner Omaima Sohail broke a 43-run partnership between Hansima Karunaratne and (27 off 59) and Prasadani Weerakkody, when the former played it down the throat of Fatima at long-on to leave Sri Lanka at 74-3.

Sri Lanka’s problems between the wickets were at display again when Weerakkody was run out by Omaima for 20 in the 14th over.

The visitors hustled to bring themselves out of trouble when Harshitha Madavi (41 off 48 ) and Kavisha Dilhari (32 off 35) combined for 61 for the fourth wicket before the partnership was broken when the latter was stumped off Omaima.

After less than two overs, Madavi fell to another run out before Fatima dismissed Nilakshi de Silva, Oshadi Ranasinghe and Sanchini Nisansala in quick successions to finish with figures of 4-26.

Tailenders Inoka Ranaweera and Achini Kulasuriya played a total of 38 balls for just five runs to ensure Sri Lanka didn’t lose another wicket before the innings ended with the visitors at 180-9.

“We lost it with the ball, the drop catches, especially Sidra’s, she played well,” said Athapaththu. “Kavisha and Nilakshi played well which was a positive.

“We had a chance to win, had Kavisha and Nilakshi continued, we could have come close.”

The series is first being played as part of the ICC Women’s Championship’s 2022-2025 cycle, which meant Pakistan got the perfect start in their qualification campaign for the 2025 World Cup.

“We have 4 points in the ICC Championship and will look to earn two more in the next game,” Bismah said after the match.

The final ODI will be played at the same venue on Sunday.

Summarised scores:

PAKISTAN 253-2 in 50 overs (Sidra Amin 123, Muneeba Ali 56; Kavisha Dilhari 1-43); SRI LANKA 180- 9 in 50 overs (Harshitha Madavi 41, Kavisha Dilhari 32; Fatima Sana 4-26, Omaima Sohail 2-35).

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022