Boundaries rained down in Dambulla as Sri Lanka Women defeated Pakistan Women by six wickets, with six balls to spare, in the first T20I on Friday. The home side clobbered 25 fours and three sixes, including 11 fours and two sixes in the PowerPlay, as they overhauled the visitors’ 176 for seven, who had themselves struck 24 fours and three sixes.

Imesha Dulani struck a strokeful maiden T20I century and put on 78 runs from 43 balls for the first wicket with her captain Chamari Athapaththu (39, 22b, 5 x 4, 2 x 6) to set the tone for a convincing victory. Dulani returned unbeaten on 101 from 64 balls with 17 fours and a six, having reached her half-century from 34 balls with seven fours.

After Umm-e-Hani ended Athapaththu’s innings with a spectacular catch, then dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne before bringing off another athletic catch to end the innings of Harshitha Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka were in some bother at 115 for three, needing 62 runs from 47 balls. However, Dulani anchored a 52-run fourth-wicket stand from 36 balls with Kavisha Dilhari (11 off 14 balls) to take her side home with six balls to spare.

This was Dulani’s career-best knock, improving on her previous best of 55 against Bangladesh in the first T20I in April.

Earlier, Pakistan slapped 13 fours in the PowerPlay as they collected 64 for no loss before reaching 89 for one at the halfway stage. In the second half of the innings, and despite losing regular wickets, they added 87 runs to finish at an impressive 176 for seven on a quick outfield with shorter boundaries.

Opener Shawaal Zulfiqar struck 10 fours and a six in a 41-ball 63, while captain Muneeba Ali belted nine fours in a 24-ball 42. The stand-in captain, deputising in the absence of Fatima Sana, added 66 runs for the first wicket from 39 balls with Shawaal, who then put on 61 runs from 51 balls with debutant Eman Naseer.

Eman scored a 27-ball 21 with one four, while other notable run-scorers were Ayesha Zafar (17, 11b, 2 x 6) and Saira Jabeen (13, 8b, 2 x 4).

Pakistan, sent in to bat by Sri Lanka, awarded T20I caps to Eman Naseer and Momina Riasat.

The second match will be played on August 2, with the third and final T20I on August 4.

Scores in brief:

1st T20I – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets, Dambulla.

PAKISTAN WOMEN 176-7, 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 63, Muneeba Ali 42, Eman Naseer 21, Ayesha Zafar 17, Saira Jabeen 13; Kavisha Dilhari 2-36)

SRI LANKA WOMEN 177-4, 19 overs (Imesha Dulani 101 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 39; Nashra Sundhu 2-25, Umm-e-Hani 1-37, Humna Bilal 1-38)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Imesha Dulani (Sri Lanka)

UPCOMING MATCHES

2nd T20I – 2 August

3rd T20I – 4 August