HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan’s batting frailties resurfaced as Sri Lanka sealed their first bilateral women’s One-day International series victory over the visitors in 24 years with a commanding eight-wicket win in the decider at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
After being bundled out for 187 in just 40 overs, Pakistan never seriously threatened to defend the modest total as half-centuries from skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera powered Sri Lanka to 191-2 in 37.2 overs and a 2-1 series triumph with 76 balls to spare.
The defeat was particularly disappointing for Pakistan after they had opened the series with a convincing win before Sri Lanka bounced back to claim the final two matches.
Pakistan’s hopes were effectively dented inside the opening two overs after opting to bat, with Chethana Vimukthi ripping through the top order.
Sadaf Shamas (nine) was the first to depart before Sidra Amin and Ayesha Zafar both fell in the space of two deliveries, leaving Pakistan reeling at 10-3 after just 11 balls.
Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 68. Gull continued her impressive series with a brisk 40 off 35 balls, striking five boundaries, while Muneeba made a patient 34 from 71 deliveries.
Athapaththu broke the partnership by trapping Gull lbw before Inoka Ranaweera accounted for Muneeba, preventing Pakistan from converting the recovery into a substantial total.
Najiha Alvi added 30 and shared another useful stand with Muneeba, but Pakistan kept losing wickets at crucial moments despite several promising partnerships.
Captain Fatima Sana once again led from the front with a fighting 41 off 49 balls, including two fours and a six, but lacked meaningful support as Pakistan were dismissed with the final ball of the 40th over.
Vimukthi, Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari claimed three wickets apiece to share the spoils.
Reflecting on the batting effort, Fatima admitted the early collapse had left her side chasing the game.
“It was a good batting surface but we didn’t bat the way we should have,” she said. “We lost three early wickets and after that we were always trying to recover. When responsibility comes to the younger players in the middle order, they have to grab that opportunity.”
Sri Lanka’s chase was clinical despite losing centurion Vishmi Gunaratne cheaply for 12 after Fatima had her caught behind.
Athapaththu quickly seized control, smashing seven fours and two sixes in a 38-ball 52 while sharing a 39-run stand with Samarawickrama after the opening wicket.
Umm-e-Hani ended Athapaththu’s enterprising knock shortly after the skipper reached her 20th ODI half-century, but Pakistan found no further breakthrough.
Samarawickrama, who had scored a century in the previous match, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 92 balls, while Perera compiled an unbeaten 50 from 77 deliveries as the pair added an unbroken 106 for the third wicket.
Samarawickrama struck the winning boundary through extra cover to finish an emphatic chase and was later named Player of the Series for scoring 173 runs across the three matches.
Athapaththu completed an outstanding all-round performance with three wickets and a half-century to earn the Player of the Match award.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026
