Pakistan women’s cricket team recorded a 3-0 clean sweep victory over Sri Lanka in the International Cricket Council (ICC) women’s championship three-match One Day International series played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
In the final match on Tuesday, Pakistan recorded an emphatic seven-wicket victory with 16 balls to spare. Javeria Khan’s maiden unbeaten century steered Pakistan Women to a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka Women in the third and final One-Day International in Sharjah on Tuesday (January 13).
It was Pakistan’s third successive win against Sri Lanka as it completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series. The result also took Pakistan to the fourth position on the ICC Women’s Championship table, with six points from as many games. Sri Lanka is placed sixth, with three points in six matches.
Sri Lanka had posted an impressive 242 for 5 in 50 overs through skipper Chamari Atapattu’s 99 runs. Pakistan, however, won the match in 47.2 overs thanks to opener Javeria Khan’s unbeaten 133. Skipper Sana Mir too chipped in with an unbeaten 51.
In the first match of the series, Pakistan won by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Sri Lanka were restricted to 178 for 8 in 50 overs with skipper Chamari top-scoring with 49 and well-supported by wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara Surangika (43). Pakistan opener Marina Iqbal cracked 69, while Javeria Khan scored 30. Together they put on 68. Nida Dar steered her team to victory through an unbeaten 37.
The second match was an exciting battle with Pakistan being restricted to 138 for nine in 50 overs. Mir top-scored with 34 as Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Sungadika Kumari took three wickets for just 24 runs. Pakistan, however, fought back and bowled out Sri Lanka for 126 to win by 12 runs. Left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf and leg-spinner Bismah Maroof took three wickets each. Except for Dilani Manodara Surangika’s 38, none of other batswomen took up the challenge.
The two teams will now play three Twenty20 matches on January 15, 16 and 17 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
