Pakistan secured a historic victory over Sri Lanka in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024, marking their first win against the Asia Cup champions in four meetings. The match, held on a slow and low pitch in Sharjah, showcased Pakistan’s resilience despite recent struggles in the T20 format.
Entering the tournament with a mixed record, Pakistan had lost four out of their last six series and 16 of their last 27 matches. In contrast, Sri Lanka came into the game on a wave of confidence, having won three out of six bilateral T20I series and boasting a record of 22 victories in their last 32 games. However, it was Pakistan who emerged victorious, posting a total of 116 runs, which many viewed as below par.
The opening day of the tournament proved challenging for both teams, with run-scoring proving laborious. Pakistan’s top order struggled, with none of the first six batsmen scoring more than 23 runs. Captain Fatima Sana led the way with a score of 30 runs off 20 balls, but the team lacked significant partnerships, with no combination exceeding 25 runs. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari, and captain Chamari Athapaththu, each claimed three wickets, putting Pakistan under pressure.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup faltered against Pakistan’s spin bowling, particularly from Omaima Sohail. The Sri Lankan team found themselves in deep trouble at 52 for 5 by the 13th over and could not recover from the early collapse, finishing their innings at just 60 runs.
The match saw the tournament’s first six, struck by Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali in the third over, who sent a delivery from Prabodhani soaring 63 meters over the midwicket boundary. Pakistan managed to hit two additional sixes and five fours, while Sri Lanka struggled to find boundaries, mustering only three fours throughout their innings.
Chamari Athapaththu made a notable impact with the ball, taking crucial wickets and applying pressure on Pakistan’s batting. However, her dismissal of key players did not spark a revival for Sri Lanka, as they failed to find their footing against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.
