On the first day, of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s team was bowled out for 116 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan stopped Sri Lanka at 85 runs due to the excellent performance of the spinners. Captain Fatima Sana scored 30 runs and took 2 wickets.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs on Thursday due to the all-around play of captain Fatima Sana and the excellent performance of the spinners. With this, Pakistan made a great start to its campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Batting first, Pakistan’s team was bowled out for 116 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. But its spinners made this score like a mountain for Sri Lanka, whose team could only score 85 runs for nine wickets.

Captain Fatima played an important role in Pakistan’s victory

If Pakistan’s team was able to reach triple figures, the credit goes to captain Fatima Sana, who played an innings of 30 runs in 20 balls. Fatima, who bowls at a medium pace, then took two wickets for 10 runs.

Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal was their most successful bowler. She took three wickets for 17 runs in four overs. She also got good support from left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (two wickets for 15 runs) and off-spinner Amima Sohail (two wickets for 17 runs).

Sri Lankan spinners also performed strongly

Earlier, Sri Lankan spinners also performed well in favorable conditions. From their side, left-arm spinner Sugandhika Kumari (three wickets for 19 runs) played an important role in wrapping up the top order, off-spinner Chamari Atapattu (three wickets for 18 runs) in the middle order, and medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhini (three wickets for 20 runs) in the lower order.

However, captain Atapattu could not show any magic in batting and returned to the pavilion after scoring only six runs.

Sri Lanka had scored only 26 runs in the power play

Sri Lanka scored 26 runs in the power play and in the meantime lost the wicket of Harshita Samarawickrama (07). After bowling her, Amima Sohail also dismissed new batsman Hansika Perera (08).

Sri Lanka’s team was struggling after scoring 44 runs for three wickets after 10 overs. Opener Vishpi Gunaratne held one end till the 13th over. But she could not score runs at the expected pace, which increased the pressure on the team.

She scored 20 runs in 34 balls which included a four. Neelakshi de Silva (22) was the second batsman from Sri Lanka to reach double figures.

Pakistan had chosen to bat after winning the toss

Earlier, Pakistan, who came to bat after winning the toss, had to struggle from the beginning against Sri Lanka’s spin attack. They lost the wickets of all three top-order batsmen Gul Ferozza (02), Muniba Ali (11), and Sidra Amin (12) in the powerplay itself. Meanwhile, Pakistan scored 32 runs.

Experienced Nida Dar (23) tried to improve the innings along with Amima Sohail (18) but after their 25-run partnership for the fourth wicket broke, Pakistan’s middle order faltered. In such a situation, Fatima Sana took the responsibility.

Despite not getting enough support from the other end, she hit some powerful shots and took Pakistan to a respectable score. Fatima hit three fours and a six in her innings.

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