Cricket is more than just a sport in countries like Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka Women Match Scorecard—it’s a passion that unites fans across generations. When the Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka Women Match Scorecard in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, it was a thrilling encounter that showcased skill, strategy, and heart. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of this exciting match, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and standout performances in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or just curious about the game, this piece will walk you through every run, wicket, and highlight from the clash on October 3, 2024, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The Stage: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 kicked off with a bang in the UAE, with matches hosted in Dubai and Sharjah. The second match of the tournament saw Pakistan Women take on Sri Lanka Women in a Group A encounter. Both teams were eager to start their campaign on a high note, with Pakistan looking to make a mark under their new captain, Fatima Sana, and Sri Lanka aiming to leverage their recent success as Asia Cup champions. The Sharjah Cricket Stadium, known for its slow and low pitches, set the stage for a tactical battle where bowlers and fielders would play a crucial role.
Match Overview
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that reflected their strategy to set a competitive total on a tricky pitch. The match was a low-scoring affair, with Pakistan posting 116 runs in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka, despite their strong batting lineup led by Chamari Athapaththu, struggled in the chase and finished at 85/9, handing Pakistan a 31-run victory. This win was a morale booster for Pakistan, who defied expectations to outplay a favored Sri Lankan side. Let’s break down the match through the scorecard and key moments.
Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka Women Match Scorecard
Match Details
-
Event: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Match 2, Group A
-
Date: October 3, 2024
-
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
-
Toss: Pakistan Women won the toss and elected to bat
-
Result: Pakistan Women won by 31 runs
-
Player of the Match: Fatima Sana (Pakistan) – 30 runs (20 balls), 2 wickets
Pakistan Women Innings (116/10 in 20 overs)
|
Batter |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Muneeba Ali (wk) |
c Sanjeewani b Kumari |
11 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 78.57 |
|
Gull Feroza |
c Sanjeewani b Kumari |
2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Sidra Ameen |
c & b Athapaththu |
12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
|
Omaima Sohail |
c Perera b Dilhari |
18 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 94.74 |
|
Nida Dar |
b Prabodhani |
23 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 104.55 |
|
Tuba Hassan |
c Sanjeewani b Athapaththu |
5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
|
Fatima Sana (c) |
c Sanjeewani b Prabodhani |
30 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 150.00 |
|
Aliya Riaz |
lbw b Athapaththu |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Nashra Sandhu |
not out |
6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
|
Sadia Iqbal |
run out (Dilhari/Sanjeewani) |
4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Diana Baig |
c Dilhari b Prabodhani |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
Extras: 3 (lb 1, w 2)
Total: 116/10 in 20 overs (Run Rate: 5.80)
Bowling (Sri Lanka Women)
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
Wides |
No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Udeshika Prabodhani |
4 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 4.75 | 0 | 0 |
|
Sugandika Kumari |
4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Inoshi Priyadharshani |
4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 | 1 | 0 |
|
Chamari Athapaththu |
4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 | 0 | 0 |
|
Kavisha Dilhari |
4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 | 1 | 0 |
Sri Lanka Women Innings (85/9 in 20 overs)
|
Batter |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vishmi Gunaratne |
c Muneeba Ali b Sadia Iqbal |
20 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 58.82 |
|
Chamari Athapaththu (c) |
c Nashra Sandhu b Fatima Sana |
6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
|
Harshitha Samarawickrama |
lbw b Sadia Iqbal |
7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.64 |
|
Kavisha Dilhari |
b Omaima Sohail |
7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 53.85 |
|
Anushka Sanjeewani (wk) |
c Tuba Hassan b Nashra Sandhu |
6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Nilakshi de Silva |
c Sidra Ameen b Nashra Sandhu |
22 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 88.00 |
|
Hasini Perera |
c Muneeba Ali b Sadia Iqbal |
8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
|
Sugandika Kumari |
c Aliya Riaz b Omaima Sohail |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Sachini Nisansala |
c Muneeba Ali b Fatima Sana |
3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
|
Inoshi Priyadharshani |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Udeshika Prabodhani |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Extras: 4 (lb 1, w 3)
Total: 85/9 in 20 overs (Run Rate: 4.25)
Bowling (Pakistan Women)
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
Wides |
No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Diana Baig |
0.1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Fatima Sana |
3.5 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 4.45 | 1 | 0 |
|
Sadia Iqbal |
4 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 4.00 | 0 | 0 |
|
Nashra Sandhu |
4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 3.75 | 0 | 0 |
|
Omaima Sohail |
4 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 4.25 | 0 | 0 |
|
Nida Dar |
4 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 4.75 | 2 | 0 |
Pakistan’s Batting: A Steady but Challenging Innings
Pakistan’s decision to bat first was strategic, aiming to put runs on the board on a pitch that was expected to slow down. However, their innings got off to a shaky start. Openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza struggled against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack. Sugandika Kumari struck early, dismissing Gull Feroza for just 2 runs and Muneeba Ali for 11, both caught by wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani. Sidra Ameen showed some promise with a quick 12 off 10 balls, but she fell to a brilliant caught-and-bowled by Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu.
The middle order faced constant pressure from Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Omaima Sohail (18 off 19) and Nida Dar (23 off 22) tried to stabilize the innings, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Chamari Athapaththu was the standout bowler, nearly claiming a hat-trick and finishing with figures of 3/18. Udeshika Prabodhani and Sugandika Kumari also chipped in with three wickets each, keeping Pakistan’s scoring in check.
The turning point came with captain Fatima Sana’s explosive cameo. Coming in at No. 7, she smashed 30 runs off just 20 balls, including three fours and a six. Her aggressive batting lifted Pakistan to a respectable 116/10 in 20 overs, giving their bowlers something to defend. The final over by Prabodhani was particularly dramatic, as she dismissed Fatima Sana and Diana Baig to wrap up the innings.
Sri Lanka’s Chase: A Struggle Against Spin
Chasing 117 runs, Sri Lanka needed a solid start from their openers, Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu. However, Pakistan’s bowlers had other plans. The innings got off to a disastrous start when Diana Baig, Pakistan’s pace bowler, injured her ankle after bowling just one ball. Captain Fatima Sana stepped up to complete the over and made an immediate impact by dismissing the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu for 6, caught by Nashra Sandhu.
Sri Lanka’s batting crumbled under Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack. Sadia Iqbal was the star, taking 3 wickets for 16 runs, including the dismissals of Vishmi Gunaratne (20 off 34) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (7 off 11). Omaima Sohail and Nashra Sandhu each claimed two wickets, keeping the pressure on with tight bowling. Sri Lanka managed only three boundaries in the powerplay, and their batters struggled to adapt to the slow pitch. Nilakshi de Silva’s 22 off 25 was the highest score, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the rising run rate.
The Lankan batters relied heavily on the sweep shot, which Pakistan’s fielders anticipated and countered effectively. By the 18th over, Sri Lanka were reeling at 85/9, with Fatima Sana striking again to dismiss Sachini Nisansala. Inoshi Priyadharshani and Udeshika Prabodhani survived the final overs, but Sri Lanka finished well short at 85/9, handing Pakistan a convincing 31-run victory.
Key Moments and Performances
- Fatima Sana’s All-Round Heroics: The Pakistan captain led from the front, earning the Player of the Match award. Her 30 runs off 20 balls provided the backbone of Pakistan’s total, and her two wickets, including the crucial scalp of Chamari Athapaththu, set the tone for the chase.
- Sri Lanka’s Bowling Dominance: Chamari Athapaththu, Sugandika Kumari, and Udeshika Prabodhani were exceptional, each taking three wickets. Their ability to strike at regular intervals kept Pakistan’s scoring in check, but the total proved just enough.
- Pakistan’s Spin Masterclass: With Diana Baig injured early, Pakistan relied on their spinners to defend 116. Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, and Omaima Sohail bowled 17 overs of spin, conceding runs at an economy rate below 5 and taking seven wickets between them.
- Sri Lanka’s Batting Woes: The loss of Chamari Athapaththu early in the chase was a massive blow. The Lankan batters struggled to rotate the strike and find boundaries, managing only a handful of fours throughout the innings.
Captains’ Reactions
After the match, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana expressed her excitement and gratitude. “I’m thrilled with this win. Thanks to the team and management for their support. We knew Chamari is a key player, and getting her early gave us a great start. We’ll build on this momentum,” she said.
Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu congratulated Pakistan and acknowledged the challenges her team faced. “Fatima Sana led from the front. We struggled to chase 120, and we need to adapt to these conditions. The pitch was slow, and we didn’t bat well enough,” she admitted.
What This Win Means for Pakistan
This victory was a statement from Pakistan, who were considered underdogs against the Asia Cup champions. It showcased their ability to compete with top teams and highlighted the leadership of young captain Fatima Sana. The win earned Pakistan two crucial points in Group A, setting them up well for their upcoming matches against strong sides like India and Australia.
For Sri Lanka, the loss was a wake-up call. Despite their strong bowling performance, their batting unit needs to adapt to challenging conditions if they hope to progress deep into the tournament. With tough opponents like Australia in their group, they’ll need to regroup quickly.
Why This Match Matters
This match was a classic example of T20 cricket’s unpredictability. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling and Fatima Sana’s all-round brilliance turned a modest total into a winning one. For fans, it was a reminder of how strategy, adaptability, and teamwork can make all the difference on a challenging pitch. The Sharjah crowd witnessed a game where bowlers ruled, and Pakistan’s spinners proved they could outsmart even the best batters.
Looking Ahead
Pakistan’s next challenge in the T20 World Cup was against India on October 6, 2024, while Sri Lanka faced Australia. Both teams took valuable lessons from this match—Pakistan gained confidence, while Sri Lanka learned the importance of adaptability. For fans, this game was a thrilling start to the tournament, promising more exciting clashes in the days ahead.
Conclusion
The Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka Women Match Scorecard on October 3, 2024, was a showcase of grit, skill, and strategy. Pakistan’s 31-run victory, driven by Fatima Sana’s heroics and a stellar bowling performance, set the tone for their World Cup campaign. The detailed scorecard above captures every moment of this exciting encounter, from Pakistan’s fighting total to Sri Lanka’s struggle in the chase. Whether you’re a young fan just learning the game or a seasoned cricket lover, this match was a reminder of why women’s cricket continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Keep cheering for these incredible athletes as they light up the T20 World Cup
