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Pakistan Spinners and Fatima Sana Shine in 31-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka
In a low-scoring yet gripping match at Sharjah, Pakistan secured a commanding 31-run victory over a lackluster Sri Lankan side in their opening encounter of the T20 World Cup 2024. Fatima Sana’s crucial lower-order knock, paired with Pakistan’s spin attack, proved decisive as they overcame a modest total of 116 to restrict Sri Lanka to just 85/9 in 20 overs.
The win marked the first T20 World Cup clash between the two sides in over a decade, and Pakistan, despite being bowled out early, made sure to defend their total on a slow wicket that kept the Sri Lankan batters at bay.
Fatima Sana’s Key Contributions with Bat and Ball
Opting to bat first, Pakistan faced a challenging start with wickets tumbling frequently. They were reduced to 32 for 3 during the PowerPlay as Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lankan side capitalized on the initial momentum. Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza were among the early dismissals, with both falling prey to Sugandika Kumari’s tight bowling and the sharp wicketkeeping of Anushka Sanjeewani.
Despite these early setbacks, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana played a pivotal role with the bat. Her 20-ball 30, laced with three boundaries and a six, was instrumental in pushing Pakistan towards a defendable total. Coming in at a critical juncture, Sana found a dependable partner in Nashra Sandhu, and together they added a valuable 28 runs for the ninth wicket. This partnership brought Pakistan close to the 120-mark before being bowled out on the final delivery of the innings.
Sri Lanka, who had initially looked in control with the ball, failed to maintain the same momentum during their chase. Athapaththu, who had earlier expressed confidence in restricting Pakistan to under 120, was dismissed cheaply, dealing a major blow to her side’s hopes.
Spin Attack Leads Pakistan’s Charge
The second innings saw Pakistan lose fast bowler Diana Baig after just one delivery due to a calf injury, but the team rallied under Sana’s captaincy. The spinners took center stage, exploiting the dry conditions and lack of dew to maintain control over the game.
Sana, opening the bowling, dismissed her Sri Lankan counterpart Athapaththu with a fuller delivery that was chipped to extra cover. Omaima Sohail followed up with a double strike, cleaning up Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera, the latter falling to a beautifully delivered off-spinner that turned significantly to rattle the stumps.
Sri Lanka’s chase never gained momentum as they struggled against Pakistan’s spinners. Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal added to the pressure, with the latter claiming three lower-order wickets. Sri Lanka could manage only three boundaries in their entire innings, none of which came after the eighth over, as Pakistan’s bowlers effectively sealed the victory.
Key Moments: Pakistan’s Defense of a Modest Total
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Early Collapse for Pakistan: Pakistan found themselves in trouble early, losing three wickets inside the first six overs. Sugandika Kumari was the pick of the bowlers, ending with 3 for 19, while Udeshika Prabodhani also claimed 3 for 20.
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Sana’s Vital Knock: The turning point came when Fatima Sana stabilized the innings with her aggressive stroke play, allowing Pakistan to post a competitive score.
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Sri Lanka’s Struggles with the Bat: Sri Lanka never recovered after the loss of Athapaththu, with their middle and lower-order unable to handle Pakistan’s spin attack. Sadia Iqbal’s 3 for 17, coupled with two wickets each from Sana and Sandhu, ensured a comfortable win for Pakistan.
With this win, Pakistan has made an impactful start to their T20 World Cup campaign, while Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly if they are to make a strong comeback in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 116 in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 30; Chamari Athapaththu 3-18, Sugandika Kumari 3-19, Udeshika Prabodhani 3-20)
Sri Lanka: 85/9 in 20 overs (Sadia Iqbal 3-17, Fatima Sana 2-10, Nashra Sandhu 2-15)
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs.
