KARACHI: A scintillating century by Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu ensured the visitors didn’t return home empty handed as they registered their first victory in the final match of their Pakistan tour here at the Southend Club on Sunday.

The left-hander plundered the Pakistan bowlers for 101 runs off 85 balls, a knock that featured 13 fours and six as Sri Lanka posted 260-7 after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

The hosts, who won the series 2-1 courtesy of their eight-wicket and 73-run win in the first two matches, were bundled up for 167.

Pakistan occupy the top-spot in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 cycle with four points from three games, Sri Lanka collected two points from their win today.

Chasing a challenging target, Pakistan were pegged back after a good start when they lost four wickets for seven runs in a space of nine overs after being 41-0. The hosts never recovered from the collapse. Sidra Amin, who had scored 76 and 123 in the first two matches, was Pakistan’s first casualty after adding just 19 runs to the total. Her opening partner Muneeba Ali was run out for 16 and captain Bismah Maroof, uncharacteristically, was gone for a duck before veteran all-rounder Nida Dar lost her wicket.

Omaima Sohail fought hard for her 40 off 61 balls (four fours) but her dismissal in the 28th over further increased Pakistan woes. Sidra Nawaz and and Fatima Sana were also dismissed in the search of quick runs.

From the other end, it was Aliya Riaz who stood firm with a fighting half-century, sixth of her career before she was dismissed while attempting to clear the boundary. The right-hander hit four fours in her 56 off 82 balls.

Athapaththu capped off a brilliant day in the field with a two-wicket contribution with the ball in her six overs. Oshadi Ranasinghe took two wickets while three batters were run out.

Earlier, Athapaththu, who had struggled to find her feet on the tour finally displayed her immense batting prowess to set a solid platform for her side’s imposing total.

The left-hander posted the sixth century of her career with Nida dismissing her in the 31st over of the innings, Sri Lanka were 156 at that stage.

Athapaththu took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers after the early loss of her opening partner Hasini Perera (3) and Hansima Karunaratne (0). The Sri Lankan skipper found an able partner in Harshitha Madavi, the duo added 152 for the third-wicket. After Athapaththu’s departure, Madavi kept the scoreboard moving for Sri Lanka. She was eventually dismissed in the 44th over for 75 off 128 balls (three fours). Madavi added 60 for the fourth-wicket with Kavisha Dilhari (28).

Summarised scores:

SRI LANKA 260-7 in 50 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 101, Harshitha Madavi 75; Anam Amin 2-43, Fatima Sana 2-51); PAKISTAN 167 all out in 41.4 overs (Aliya Riaz 56, Omaima Sohail 40; Chamari Athapaththu 2-20, Oshadi Ranasinghe 2-29).

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2022