AI Simulation, Women's WC | Hosts Sri Lanka squeeze home against Pakistan in Colombo by 25 runs

‌Pitch and Weather

R. Premadasa Stadium is known for providing a balanced pitch, ideal for both batting and bowling. Fast bowlers got some initial assistance, while spinners came into play as the game progressed. The weather in Colombo was clear, with temperatures around 30°C. 

Toss

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision was based on the usual conditions at R. Premadasa, where batting first often allows teams to set a target and then use spinners to control the game later.

Lineups

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera

Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Fatima Sana (c), Diana Baig, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu

Match Report

Sri Lanka Women, opting to bat first after winning the toss, started their innings cautiously. Chamari Athapaththu, the team captain, anchored the batting with a solid 45 runs, providing stability at the top. Vishmi Gunaratne supported her well, contributing 35 runs, and together, they set the foundation for Sri Lanka's innings. However, Pakistan's bowlers, led by Fatima Sana and Diana Baig, kept the pressure on, regularly picking up wickets at crucial intervals. The middle order struggled against the disciplined Pakistan bowling attack, but key contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Inoka Ranaweera helped Sri Lanka reach a competitive total of 222/8 in 50 overs.

In response, Pakistan Women got off to a slow start, losing early wickets to the spin duo of Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweera. Muneeba Ali (45) and Sidra Amin (33) fought hard to keep the chase alive, but their efforts were not enough as the pressure mounted. The middle order collapsed under the weight of Sri Lanka’s spinners, and despite a late flurry from Fatima Sana (23), Pakistan’s chase faltered. Inoka Ranaweera continued to make key breakthroughs, finishing with figures of 3/42, and Pakistan was restricted to 197/9 in their 50 overs, falling short by 45 runs.

Sri Lanka’s disciplined performance with both bat and ball ensured a comfortable victory, and they completed the match with a 45-run win over Pakistan Women, adding another important two points to their tally in the tournament.

Player of the Match

Inoka Ranaweera was named Player of the Match for her exceptional bowling performance, taking three wickets for 42 runs and applying pressure throughout the chase, which helped restrict Pakistan in a low run-chase.

Scorecard