SHARJAH: Pakistan staged a determined fightback to beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their opening game of the Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in Sharjah on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal claimed three wickets with Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and captain Fatima Sana all taking two each for Pakistan as Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka fell comfortably short of their target of 117.

Pakistan needed a crucial lower-order knock from Fatima to post a competitive total, having slumped to 84-8 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Sugandika Kumari had both Pakistan openers caught behind off her left-arm spin and the wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Omaima made 18 and Nida Dar added 23 but Pakistan looked in danger of failing to reach 100 as Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu picked up three wickets with her off-spin.

Athapaththu finished with 3-18 and Kumari took 3-19 but Fatima’s 30 off 20 balls, featuring three fours and a six, frustrated Sri Lanka and proved a match-winning contribution.

Fatima, who was later named player-of-the-match, was eventually dismissed by left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani, who ended with 3-20.

Pakistan lost opening bowler Diana Baig to a calf strain after just one ball of the Sri Lanka innings, but her replacement Sana picked up the vital wicket of Athapaththu — caught at extra cover for six.

Omaima bowled Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera cheaply, but while Vishmi Gunaratne remained at the crease there was hope for Sri Lanka.

Kavisha Dilhari holed out to long-on off Sandhu while trying to increase the run rate to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 47-4 in the 11th over.

Nilakshika Silva earned a reprieve when she was trapped lbw from a delivery called a dead ball after Nashra’s towel fell out of her pocket.

But Gunaratne perished for 20 three balls later as she was caught just inside the boundary attempting to hit Nashra straight down the ground.

Silva departed for 22 in the penultimate over after a top edge to short fine leg.

Neither team has ever made it out of the group stage in eight previous attempts at the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan face arch-rivals India in their next game on Sunday, while Sri Lanka take on tournament favourites Australia who are bidding for a seventh title in nine editions.

WINNING START FOR BD

Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh kicked off the Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a scrappy 16-run win over tournament debutants Scotland in the searing heat of Sharjah.

After electing to bat first, Sobhana Mostary top-scored with 36 for Bangladesh in a below-par total of 119-7.

Their bowlers then strangled the Scotland reply and in spite of Sarah Bryce’s 49 not out from 52 balls, the newcomers could only muster 103-7 in reply, handing Bangladesh their first win in a T20 World Cup in a decade.

Ritu Moni was named player-of-the-match for her parsimonious spell of 2-15 from four overs.

It was a tough opener for both sides with temperatures hitting 38 degrees celsius and the batters stymied by a sluggish pitch and slow outfield.

There were just 15 fours in the match and no sixes to cheer the sparsely-populated stands.

Brief scores:

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs.

PAKISTAN 116 in 20 overs (F. Sana 30; C. Athapaththu 3-18, S. Kumari 3-19, U. Prabodhani 3-20); SRI LANKA 85-9 in 20 overs (S. Iqbal 3-17)

Bangladesh beat Scotland by 16 runs.

BANGLADESH 119-7 in 20 overs (S. Mostary 36, S. Rani 29; S. Horley 3-13); SCOTLAND 103-7 in 20 overs (S. Bryce 49 not out, R. Moni 2-15).

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024