Sri Lanka Women vs Pakistan Women remained one of the biggest talking points in women’s cricket as Sri Lanka completed a memorable series triumph over Pakistan. The hosts sealed a convincing eight-wicket victory in the third and final ODI on Tuesday, securing the three-match series 2-1 and scripting history with their first-ever bilateral ODI series win against Pakistan.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka Women’s cricket, ending a 24-year wait for a bilateral ODI series success over Pakistan. Led by an outstanding all-round performance from captain Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka outplayed their opponents in every department to finish the series on a high note.
Pakistan Fail to Recover After Early Batting Collapse
Pakistan endured a disastrous start after being asked to bat first. Their top order crumbled under pressure as Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck early to put the visitors on the back foot.
Chetna Vimukthi delivered the breakthrough that changed the course of the innings. Within the opening two overs, Pakistan had already lost three wickets for just 10 runs, leaving the batting lineup struggling to recover from the early damage.
Facing a difficult situation, Gul Feroza and Muneeba Ali attempted to stabilize the innings with a patient 68-run partnership. The duo briefly gave Pakistan hope by rebuilding after the collapse, but Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu stepped in with a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Gul Feroza, ending the promising stand.
Pakistan’s innings slipped once again as wickets continued to fall. The team went from 110 for four to 146 for seven, making it difficult to post a competitive total.
Captain Fatima Sana showed resilience under pressure, playing a fighting knock of 41 runs to guide Pakistan to a respectable total. Despite her efforts, the visitors were bowled out for 187 runs in the 40th over.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack produced an impressive team performance. Kavisha Dilhari and Chamari Athapaththu claimed three wickets each, while the rest of the bowling unit maintained pressure throughout the innings.
Chamari Athapaththu Leads the Chase with Aggressive Batting
Chasing a target of 188, Sri Lanka began confidently despite losing opener Vishmi Gunaratne in the seventh over. Gunaratne, who had scored a century in the previous match, could not make another big contribution.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu took charge of the chase with her trademark attacking style. She dominated Pakistan’s bowlers and shifted the momentum completely in Sri Lanka’s favour.
One of the highlights of her innings came against Tasmia Rubab, when Athapaththu smashed three boundaries and a six in a single over. She also completed the 30th fifty-plus score of her ODI career during the innings, once again proving why she remains one of the most influential players in women’s cricket.
After Athapaththu’s dismissal, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera ensured there were no further setbacks.
Hasini Perera registered the third half-century of her ODI career, while Samarawickrama continued her excellent form throughout the series. The pair comfortably guided Sri Lanka to victory in just 37.2 overs.
Sri Lanka finished the chase with only two wickets down, winning the match by eight wickets with 76 balls remaining.
Harshitha Samarawickrama Named Player of the Series
Chamari Athapaththu’s brilliant all-round contribution earned her the Player of the Match award. Her three-wicket spell, combined with an aggressive half-century, proved decisive in Sri Lanka’s historic victory.
Harshitha Samarawickrama was deservedly named Player of the Series after an outstanding batting display across the three-match contest. She accumulated 173 runs while being dismissed only once, underlining her consistency throughout the series.
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Historic Achievement for Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket
The series victory is more than just another win for Sri Lanka. It represents the team’s first bilateral ODI series triumph over Pakistan and brings an end to Pakistan’s impressive streak of four consecutive ODI series victories.
The result also highlights the steady progress Sri Lanka Women’s team has made in recent years, with experienced players and emerging talent combining to produce consistent performances.
With confidence running high after this landmark achievement, Sri Lanka will now turn its attention to the shortest format as both teams prepare for the upcoming T20I series.
T20I Series Begins on July 31
Following the conclusion of the ODI series, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will face each other again in a T20I series starting on July 31 in Dambulla.
Both teams will be eager to carry momentum into the new format. Sri Lanka will look to build on its historic ODI success, while Pakistan will aim to bounce back quickly and level the rivalry with a stronger performance in the T20 matches.
The Sri Lanka Women vs Pakistan Women 1st ODI series will be remembered as a landmark chapter for Sri Lankan women’s cricket, showcasing a complete team performance, outstanding leadership from Chamari Athapaththu, and a historic series win that ended a 24-year wait against Pakistan.
