HAMBANTOTA: Sri Lanka Women secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the third and final ODI to clinch the three-match series 2-1 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa on Tuesday.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 187 in 40 overs as Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Chethana Vimukthi, Kavisha Dilhari and captain Chamari Athapaththu, kept the visitors well below a competitive total.
Captain Fatima Sana top-scored for Pakistan with 41 off 49 deliveries, striking two fours and a six. Opener Gull Feroza provided a brisk start with 40 from 35 balls, including five boundaries.
Middle-order batter Muneeba Ali added 34 from 71 deliveries with three fours, while wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi contributed 30 off 39 balls, hitting four boundaries.
The rest of the batting line-up failed to make a significant impact. Opener Sadaf Shamas scored nine from seven balls with two fours, while Sidra Amin and Ayesha Zafar were both dismissed without scoring.
Umm-e-Hani managed one run, Syeda Aroob Shah made eight, and Nashra Sandhu added five.
For Sri Lanka, Chethana Vimukthi, Kavisha Dilhari and Chamari Athapaththu claimed three wickets each, while Inoka Ranaweera chipped in with one dismissal.
In reply, Sri Lanka comfortably chased down the 188-run target, reaching it for the loss of just two wickets in 38 overs thanks to impressive half-centuries from Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera and Athapaththu.
Samarawickrama anchored the innings with an unbeaten 71 off 92 deliveries, striking 11 boundaries. Athapaththu played an aggressive knock of 52 from just 38 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes.
Hasini Perera added a composed 50 from 77 deliveries, including eight boundaries, while Vishmi Gunaratne chipped in with 12 off 17 balls, hitting two fours.
The victory sealed the series 2-1 for Sri Lanka after Pakistan had levelled the contest in the second ODI following the hosts’ win in the opening match.
