Pakistan Women ended their Sri Lanka tour with a win, just as they had started it — beating Sri Lanka Women by four wickets in the third T20I in Dambulla on Tuesday, mirroring their five-wicket win in the series-opening ODI in Hambantota on 23 July. However, Sri Lanka won both the ODI and T20I series by an identical 2-1 margin.

The last game of the tour was a complete contrast to the opening two T20Is, when a total of 706 runs were scored in 76.4 overs with 98 fours and 15 sixes. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka, put in to bat, were restricted to 113 for six in 20 overs, which included 10 fours. In turn, Pakistan achieved the target for the loss of six wickets in 18.2 overs, while clobbering 16 fours and one six.

Sri Lanka collected 44 runs for the loss of Imesha Dulani (17) in the PowerPlay, but managed only 69 runs in the next 14 overs as Pakistan’s slow bowlers suffocated them on a slow surface. Captain Chamari Athapaththu was her side’s top-scorer with a 33-ball 34 with five fours, while Sanjana Kavindi scored 20 from 18 balls with two fours.

Athapaththu added 36 runs each for the first and second wickets, with Dulani and Kavindi, respectively.

Momina Riasat was the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers with two for 18. Nashra Sandhu took one for 17, Tuba Hassan one for 20, and Ayesha Zafar one wicket in her only over at the cost of six runs, while Umm-e-Hani opened the bowling and finished with one for 30.

In turn, Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali (19, 16b, 4 x 4) and Shawaal Zulfiqar (21, 12b, 3 x 4, 1 x 6) inside the PowerPlay with the scorecard reading 44, both removed by Kavisha Dilhari. Chamari Athapaththu then struck twice, accounting for Ayesha Zafar and Eyman Fatima, but Pakistan held their nerve to complete the chase with four wickets and 10 balls to spare.

In the middle-order, Ayesha Zafar top-scored with 39 from 31 balls with six fours, while Saira Jabeen finished unbeaten on 12 from 16 balls to see Pakistan home. Ayesha was later adjudged player of the match.

Scores in brief:

3rd T20I – Pakistan Women beat Sri Lanka Women by four wickets, Dambulla

SRI LANKA WOMEN 113-6, 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 34, Sanjana Kavindi 20, Imesha Dulani 17, Kavisha Dilhari 12, Kaushini Nuthyangana 12 not out, Kawya Kavindi 10 not out; Momina Riasat 2-18)

PAKISTAN WOMEN 115-6, 18.2 overs (Ayesha Zafar 39, Shawaal Zulfiqar 21, Muneeba Ali 19, Saira Jabeen 12 not out; Chamari Athapaththu 2-20, Kavisha Dilhari 2-24)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan)

PLAYER OF THE SERIES – Imesha Dulani (Sri Lanka)

PREVIOUS RESULTS:

First ODI (23 Jul) – Pakistan Women beat Sri Lanka Women by five wickets, Hambantota
Second ODI (25 Jul) – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by eight wickets, Hambantota
Third ODI (28 Jul) – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by eight wickets, Hambantota
First T20I (31 Jul) – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets, Dambulla
Second T20I (2 Aug) – Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets, Dambulla