Published: Jul 16, 2017, 12:38 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 16, 2017, 01:43 AM (IST)
Sri Lanka were finally able to taste victory in their last match of ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, as they defeated Pakistan by 15 runs, thereby ending their campaign on a positive note. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 221 runs on the board. Dilani Manodara played a superb innings of 84, as she helped her side to recover from 98 for 5 by stitching a 76-run partnership with Eshani Lokusuriyage. In reply, Pakistan fell just 16 runs short of the target as they were bowled out for 206.
With the bat, Sri Lanka were off to the worst possible start, losing both their openers for just 18 runs on the board. Diana Baig accounted for both wickets of Nipuni Hansika and Hasini Perera. The innings was then revived by a useful partnership between Chamari Atapattu and Shashikala Siriwardene, who added 46 runs for the third-wicket stand. Unlike the last game against South Africa, the Sri Lankan batters scored the runs at a decent rate. However, once the partnership between Atapattu and Siriwardene was broken, they lost wickets in a cluster and from 64 for 2, they slipped down to 98 for 5 in a matter of few overs.
At this stage, Sri Lanka feared of getting bowled out for another cheap score. But a certain Dilani Manodara wasn’t going to allow that to happen. She came out to bat on the fall of Atapattu’s wicket and had already seen a couple of her teammates throwing their wickets away by playing loose shots. However, that didn’t deter Manodara’s confidence as she stood her ground firm and played a wonderful innings of 84. It wasn’t an easy batting pitch and with the Pakistan bowlers bowling accurately, Manodara had to strive hard to score her runs. Giving her good support at the other end was Eshani Lokusuriyage. Her contribution was only 28 in the 76-run partnership, but it was really valuable from her team’s point of view.
At the start of the 40th over, Sana Mir brought her medium pacers back into the attack and the move worked for Pakistan as Asmavia Iqbal provided her team with a much-needed breakthrough. It was a brilliant catch taken by the captain herself in the outfield.
With only 7 more overs to go, Mandora decided to play some innovative shots and tried to score as many runs as possible. She was also successful in doing so and added 20 more runs to the team’s total, before being dismissed by Diana Baig in the 48th over. Her knock helped Sri Lanka post a fighting total of 221 runs on the board, which proved out to be enough in the end.
Pakistan were off to a decent start during the run-chase, having lost just one wicket in the first 13 overs. The partnership between Javeria Khan and Ayesha Zafar was building up nicely for Pakistan. However, it was cut short by Chandima Gunaratne, who picked up her second wicket in her 7th consecutive over. In her very next over, Javeria Khan – the highest run-getter for Pakistan – was run out.
The two quick wickets had jolted Pakistan’s innings and they were now in need of a partnership to get back into the game. The same was provided by Nain Abidi and Iram Javed, who added 53 runs for the fourth wicket. Abidi, in particular, batted aggressively as she took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers and scored a 60-ball half-century. Even though they lost the wicket of Javed, Pakistan were very much in the run-chase, as they needed 89 runs to get from 19 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
Abidi was the key wicket for Sri Lanka, and they were able to get her out in the form of a run out. Just like Javeria Khan, she also lost her wicket due to miscommunication between her partner and her. Once Abidi got out, the Pakistan innings fell like a pack of cards, as they lost their 3 wickets for just 38 runs and were now reduced to 172 for 8. Gunaratne added two more wickets to her tally and finished with a 4-wicket haul.
The only hope left for Pakistan was Asmavia Iqbal, who was batting on 19. Just when Pakistan were looking down and out of the match, Iqbal played a terrific knock of 38 off just 45 balls and almost took her team over the victory line. 22 runs were needed off the last 5 overs and with Iqbal still out there, it was anybody’s game.
Inoka Ranaweera brought Ama Kanchana back into the attack, and she straightaway provided the breakthrough by getting Diana Baig back in the pavilion. It was a crucial wicket for the Sri Lankans, and they were now one wicket away from victory. The Sri Lankan captain, then, finished off the match in the very next over as she cleaned up Sadia Yousuf to help her team win the match by 15 runs.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka Women 221 for 7 in 50 overs (Dilani Mandora 84, Eshani Lokusuriyage 28; Diana Baig 3 for 41) beat Pakistan Women 206 all-out in 46.4 overs (Nain Abidi 57, Asmavia Iqbal 38*; Chandima Gunaratne 4 for 41) by 15 runs.
Player of the Match: Chandima Gunaratne
