Pak ladies through in low scoring affair

In an unimpressive and low- scoring affair, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets at their ICC Women’s Twenty20 WC 2012 warm up game played at the NCC ground in Colombo yesterday.

Sri Lanka who are slotted along with New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa in Group B, failed to strike ahead of the sparkling contest, against the unpredictable Pakistan side who in contrast impressed with their bowling attack. Chasing a meagre 78 runs for victory, Pakistan achieved their target convincingly losing six wick- ets with 16 balls to spare but sans much hyper.

Sri Lanka who were put into bat, experienced an early blow when Pakistan’s strike bowler, rightarm pacie Asmavia Iqbal struck with three quick wickets to put the hosts in defense before the total reached double figures.

However skipper Sashikala Siriwardene singlehandedly defied the strong pace attack of Pakistan with a brave knock of 38 off 52 balls. She also hit a couple of boundaries and the solitary six of the game as the top scorer for Sri Lanka and the whole encounter in a losing cause.

Siriwardene was instrumental in putting back the shattered Sri Lanka inning in order as she added 26 runs for the fourth wicket with Dilani Manodara (7) and then 21 runs for the eighth wicket with Sripali Weerakkody who was unbeaten on 10 inclusive of a boundary. From 9- 3 Sri Lanka progressed to reach 35- 4 but Siriwardene could not find a perfect partner in between as they again slumped to 55-7. After her partnership with Weerakkody, Siriwardene was dismissed by Asmavia at 76 as Sri Lanka’s eighth wicket. Asmavia completed with impressive figures of 4 for 11 inclusive of a rare maiden over in Opening bowler Qanita Jalil and Sumaiya Siddiqi too bowled impressively but went wicketless. Leftarm spinner Sadia Yousuf picked up 2 for 10. Chasing a meagre 78, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals but they still managed to reach their target without much bother. Opener and skipper Sana Mir emerging as the top scorer with 18 off 24 balls inclusive of three boundaries while Nain Abidi and Asmavia hit 13 each but in contrasting fashion. Abidi faced 30 balls for her knock while Asmavia clobbered 13 not out off just seven balls inclusive of three boundaries.

For Sri Lanka skipper and off- spinner Siriwardene and left- arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera claimed two wickets each as Pakistan reached 78- 6 in the 18th over.

Sri Lanka 77 for 8 wickets ( 20) ( Sashikala Siriwardene 38, Sripali Weerakkody 10n. o, Asmavia Iqbal 4/ 11, Sadia Yousuf 2/ 20, Nida Dar 1/20)

Pakistan 78 for 6 wickets (17.2) (Sana Mir 18, Nain Abidi 13, Nida Dar 10, Asmavia Iqbal 13n. o, Inoka Ranaweera 2/ 12, Sashikala Siriwardene 2/ 17, Chamani Seneviratne 1/ 8, Sandamali Dolawatte 1/14)