Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan's devastating bowling in a low-scoring match, Sri Lanka lost by 31 runs

The women's T20 World Cup 2024's second match was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan's devastating bowling in this low-scoring match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, failing to even reach the modest target of 117 runs.

Pakistan batted first in this match, scoring only 116 runs in 20 overs after losing all wickets, due to the valiant innings of captain Fatima Sana (30) and Nida Dar (23). In reply, the Sri Lankan team could only score 89 runs after playing all of the overs, losing by 31 runs.

Chasing a 117-run target, Sri Lanka made a very poor start and in the third over itself, it lost the wicket of skipper Chamari Atapattu (six). After this, in the sixth over, Harshita Samarawickrama, who played runs, returned to the pavilion. Further, the wickets of Sri Lanka continued falling at regular intervals. Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored for them, sending Hasini Perera for eight, Kavisha Dilhari for three, Anushka Sanjeevani for five, and Sugandhika Kumari for zero.

Nilakshi De Silva scored 22 runs in 25 balls. The result of Pakistan's tight bowling was that nine Sri Lankan batsmen could not reach double figures, and the Sri Lankan team could score only 85 runs in the stipulated 20 overs and lost the match by 31 runs. Sadia Iqbal took three wickets for Pakistan; Fatima Sana, Omaima Sohail, and Nashra Sandhu got two wickets each.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had bowled out the entire team of Pakistan for a score of 116, thanks to the excellent bowling of Sugandhika Kumari, Chamari Atapattu, and Udeshika Prabodhini, who took three wickets each. However, fighting innings by captain Fatima Sana and Nida Dar helped Pakistan reach a respectable score.

Pakistan team captain Fatima Sana won the toss and decided to bat first. Coming into bat, Pakistan's team had to face the havoc of Sri Lankan bowlers Sugandhika, Chamari, and Udeshika. Sugandhika Kumari gave the first blow to Pakistan by dismissing Gul Ferozza (two) in the second over. After this, she sent Muniba Ali (11) to the pavilion in the fourth over.

Sixth over, Chamari Atapattu caught Sidra Amin who was batting at 11 runs on her own ball. Others who were out are Omaima Sohail 18, and Nida Dar scored 23 runs with the help of a six in 22 balls bowled out by Udeshika Prabodhini. Others who got runs included Tuba Hasan five, Alia Riaz zero, Diana Baig five and Sadia Iqbal five.

Captain Fatima Sana scored the highest runs of 30, hitting three fours and a six in 20 balls. The whole Pakistan team got out at the score of 116 in the stipulated 20 overs. Sugandika Kumari, Chamari Atapattu, and Udeshika Prabodhini of Sri Lanka snatched each three wickets. Kavisha Dilhari sent one batsman to the pavilion.