Bismah, Sana seal series win for Pakistan women

DAMBULLA: Skipper Bismah Maroof’s 89 and Sana Mir’s 4-20 guided Pakistan Women to a 94-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in the three-match ODI series of the second ICC World Championship at Dambulla.

The victory gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, after they had won the first ODI by 69 runs.

Opting to bat, Pakistan put up a competitive total of 250/6, Bismah was supported by contributions from Nida Dar (38) and Nahida Khan (29). Sana contributed with the bat as well scoring 25-ball 27 including three fours.

In reply, Sri Lanka bowled out for 156 in 37 overs. Sripali Weerakkody top scored with 29, while Chamari Athapaththu and Chamari Polgampola scored 24 each.

Ama Kanchana contributed valuable 24-ball 23, but none of the batters managed to make them count, Pakistan nipping them out just as they got going.

Mir’s four-wicket haul was a driving factor behind Pakistan’s victory. The right-arm off-spinner dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order, getting the wickets of Dilani Manodara (5), Shashikala Siriwardene (0), Rebeca Vandort (10) and Hasini Perera (11).

Sri Lanka were dealt an early blow when opener Nipuni Hansika was run out in the fifth over of the innings. Mir then scalped Manodara in the eighth over while captain Atapattu was caught by Nahida Khan off Nashra Sandhu for 24. Sri Lanka were reduced to 34/3 within nine overs.

They kept losing wickets thereafter. A 34-run partnership between Kanchana and Polgampola helped Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark, but they couldn’t pose a challenge big enough to get near the Pakistan’s total.

Weerakkody and Sugandika Kumari added 50 runs for the final wicket, but it was too little too late. Kumari (17) was dismissed by Diana Baig to put an end to the Sri Lankan resistance.

Earlier, a 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Nida and Bismah lifted Pakistan from 98-4 to 189-5 and revived the innings after Sri Lanka had made early inroads.

Bismah was the last woman to be dismissed as she was caught off Weerakkody in the third ball of the final over.

Sripali Weerakkody picked up two wickets for Sri Lanka while Ama Kanchana and Inoka Ranaweera returned a wicket each.