Thu Oct 03 16:34:14 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka Dominates Pakistan in Women’s T20 World Cup Opener

**Sharjah, October 3:** Sri Lanka secured a convincing victory in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup, restricting Pakistan to a paltry 116 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Spin duo Chamari Atapattu and Sugandika Kumari, along with medium-pacer Udeshika Prabodhani, were the architects of Pakistan’s downfall, claiming a combined nine wickets.

Pakistan’s batting struggled from the outset, facing a relentless Sri Lankan spin attack. The top order crumbled early, losing the wickets of Gul Feroza (2), Muneeba Ali (11), and Sidra Amin (12) within the powerplay.

While experienced batter Nida Dar (23) and Aimaima Sohail (18) attempted to stabilize the innings, Pakistan’s middle order failed to recover after their 25-run partnership was broken.

Captain Fatima Sana displayed some resilience, scoring a quickfire 30 runs off just 20 balls, including three boundaries and a six. However, she received limited support from the other end, and Pakistan ultimately failed to reach a respectable score.

Sugandika (3 wickets for 19 runs) took charge of dismantling the top order, while Atapattu (3 wickets for 18 runs) dominated the middle order. Prabodhani (3 wickets for 20 runs) sealed the deal by dismantling the lower order.

Sri Lanka will now look to carry this momentum into their subsequent matches, while Pakistan faces a challenging task to bounce back in the tournament.

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