Javeria Khan made a fluent half century as Pakistan chased down 129 to take a 1-0 lead in their 3 match T20I series against Sri Lanka at the SSC grounds in Colombo earlier today (28th).
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Having been put into bat by Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof, it was an all too familiar performance from the Sri Lankan batters as wickets fell at regular intervals on a characteristically flat SSC track. After a humiliating 3-0 loss in the ODI series in which they chased unsuccessfully in every game, Sri Lanka would have been thrilled to go out to bat first. However, things didn’t go to plan as they lost skipper Chamari Atapattu in the 4th over.
The hosts lost 4 more within the next 5 overs and were tottering on 38/5 when Anushka Sanjeewani and Nilakshi De Silva, neither of whom were included in the ODI set up, came together. The pair put on 84 for the 6th wicket to bring some respectability to the Lankan total.
Sanjeewani made 61 off 58 included 8 boundaries and was the last batter dismissed as Sri Lanka posted 129 in their 20 overs; De Silva made 35 off 34.
Sana Mir, who had troubled the Lankans in the ODIs, was at it again, claiming 2/25 in her 4 overs while Diana Baig finished with 2/18.
Left arm spinner Sugandika Kumari and off-spinner OShadi Ranasinghe put the Pakistani batters under pressure early on in the chase, dismissing both Nahida Khan and Natalia Pervaiz cheaply. However, the two experienced heads Maroof and Javeria Khan came together to put on 60 for the 3rd wicket, anchoring the visitors’ chase.
Maroof made 42 and although Khan stuck around until the visitors were within sight of victory, making a 36-ball 52, her dismissal saw 3 further wickets falling as Pakistan fell to 127/9. They were eventually able to get over the line, with Ghulam Fatima scoring the winning runs.
Sugandika Kumari bowled her heart out, claiming 3/23 but could not prevent Pakistan from getting over the line.
The two teams will clash again on Friday 30th of March in the 2nd T20I at the same venue.
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