- Fifties from Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar went in vain as Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan’s 177 with commanding authority.
Chamari Athapaththu produced a sensational unbeaten 83 to guide Sri Lanka into the final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition, as they successfully chased down Pakistan’s target of 178.
The Sri Lankan captain struck six sixes in a superb 50-ball innings, accelerating dramatically after a cautious start to help her side match their highest-ever successful T20I chase.
Pakistan, batting first, posted 177, their highest T20I total against Sri Lanka. Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar both made half-centuries, but their efforts ultimately proved insufficient.
Athapaththu changes gears
Athapaththu initially struggled to find her rhythm. While opening partner Imesha Dulani provided the early impetus with a brisk 27 off 21 balls, Athapaththu was just 4 off 9 deliveries when Dulani departed.
At the end of the powerplay, she had moved to only 7 off 12 balls without finding the boundary.
The turning point came in the eighth over when Athapaththu launched an explosive attack on Momina Riasat, smashing her for 6, 4, 6 and 4 in a 20-run over.
She survived a crucial moment during that assault when Fatima Sana caught her at deep midwicket, only to step on the boundary rope while attempting to return the ball to the field. Athapaththu was then on 18 off 19 balls.
The reprieve proved costly for Pakistan.
Athapaththu continued to dominate the spin bowling, taking two fours and a six off Nashra Sandhu in the 10th over to reduce the required rate significantly.
Hasini joins the attack
With Sri Lanka firmly in control, Hasini Perera matched her captain’s aggression. She hammered Tuba Hassan for two sixes and a four in the 13th over before eventually falling for a rapid 42 off 26 balls.
The pair had added 95 runs from 56 deliveries, completely shifting the momentum of the chase.
When Hasini departed at the end of the 14th over, Sri Lanka required 47 runs from 36 balls. Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama needed only 23 deliveries to complete the chase.
Athapaththu remained unbeaten on 83, finishing the contest in emphatic fashion and securing Sri Lanka’s place in the final.
Pakistan’s strong start falls short
Pakistan had earlier produced a competitive total after being sent in to bat.
Shawaal Zulfiqar registered her second T20I half-century, scoring 54 from 50 balls. While her innings provided stability, Pakistan needed greater acceleration earlier in the innings.
Ayesha Zafar supplied that aggression.
Coming in at No. 4, Zafar smashed 71 from just 40 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes. She combined with Zulfiqar for a 115-run third-wicket partnership from 70 balls.
Zafar contributed the majority of the attacking strokeplay, scoring 71 of the 115 runs, while Zulfiqar made 37 during the partnership.
Pakistan eventually finished on 177, but Sri Lanka’s explosive response ensured that their strong batting effort was not enough.
With Athapaththu leading from the front, Sri Lanka completed a memorable chase and booked their place in the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition final.
