Dambulla (SBR):
Sri Lanka women began the three-match T20I series on a winning note against Pakistan women as they romped to a six-wicket victory in a successful 177-run chase with six balls left as they were led by Imesha Dulani’s unbeaten century here at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan were helped to their highest total in WT20Is on Sri Lankan soil as opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar registered her maiden half-century for Pakistan scoring a sublime 63 and also shared a 66-run opening stand with Muneeba Ali. For Pakistan, batter Eman Naseer and left-arm spinner Momina Riasat made their WT20I debuts.
In pursuit of the chase, Sri Lanka gathered 78 runs in 7.1 overs before Nashra Sundhu picked up her 201st wicket for Pakistan across formats, removing Chamari Athapaththu for a 22-ball 39. Umm-e-Hani was involved in three of the four wickets to fall as Pakistan resisted by taking three for 37 in 30 balls.
Hani first employed a brilliant dive at long-on to pouch Athapaththu’s catch in eighth over before removing Vishmi Gunaratne for three in 10th. She was again the catcher when Nashra got rid of Harshitha Samarawickrama for seven in the 13th over.
Player of the match Imesha managed to keep the run flow intact with regular boundaries as she hit 17 fours and one six in her match-winning 64-ball 101 not out – her maiden ton in international cricket. Humna Bilal accounted for Kavisha Dilhari to start the penultimate over but Sri Lanka reached the target by the end of it.
Earlier, Pakistan were put into bat by Athapaththu and their opening duo replied by taking 64 runs off the powerplay. Muneeba’s rampaging 24-ball 42-run knock was cut short in the seventh over as she was run out after hitting nine fours.
Debutant Eman scored 21 before with the help of one four before becoming first of Dilhari’s two scalps. Eman and Shawaal shared a 61-run stand off 51 balls. Shawaal hit 10 fours and one six in her first match for Pakistan since September 2025.
Pakistan scored 45 runs off the last 28 balls of their innings Saira Jabeen chipped in with a eight-ball 12-run knock hitting two fours, while Eyman Fatima and Umm-e-Hani also struck a four each.
The second match of the series will be played on Sunday, 2 August at the same venue.
Scores in brief
Pakistan 176-7, 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 63, Muneeba Ali 42, Eman Naseer 21; Kavisha Dilhari 2-36)
Sri Lanka 177-4, 19 overs (Imesha Dulani 101 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 39; Nashra Sundhu 2-25)
