The action unfolded in Faisalabad as Pakistan Women’s Under-19s secured a thrilling 5-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women’s Under-19s with six balls to spare in the 2nd match of the Pakistan Women’s Under-19s T20 Series.
Sri Lanka Women’s U19 took to the crease first, with openers Sanjana Kavindi and Nethmi Upeksha aiming to lay a stable foundation. However, Pakistan made an early breakthrough in the third over when Mahnoor Zeb ran out Kavindi for 7 runs (6 balls, along with one four with the score at 12/1. Unfazed by the early setback, Upeksha anchored the innings skillfully alongside Vimoksha Balasuriya.
Together, they constructed a fluent 58-run partnership for the second wicket, steadily accumulating runs and taking Sri Lanka past the 50-run mark. The stand was broken in the 12th over when wicketkeeper Zoofishan Ayyaz stumped Upeksha off the bowling of Memoona Khalid. Upeksha departed after top-scoring for her side with 40 runs off 43 deliveries.
Following Upeksha’s dismissal at 70/2, Balasuriya tried to press on, but Mahnoor Zeb returned to remove her in the 15th over. Balasuriya was caught behind by Ayyaz for 26 off 30 balls, leaving Sri Lanka at 90/3. Manudi Nanayakkara (14 off 16 balls) and Shashini Gimhani (2 off 4 balls) attempted to accelerate, but Khalid struck again by removing Gimhani (95/4). Nanayakkara was then run out by Ravail Farhan at 98/5.
Pakistan’s bowlers capitalized on the mid-innings panic as Sri Lanka lost Limansa Thilakarathna (0) to Shahar Bano, while Danodya Sewmini (3) and Nethagi Isuranjali (0) fell in rapid succession to Zeb. Late striking from Pramudi Methsara, who smashed a brisk 20 off 13 balls, pushed the score before she was run out by Fizza Fiaz on the penultimate ball. Aseni Thalagune remained unbeaten on 0. Helped by 12 extras, Sri Lanka posted 124/9 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan’s bowling attack maintained tight discipline throughout the innings. Mahnoor Zeb led the charge with superb figures of 3/18 in 4 overs. Memoona Khalid provided great support with 2/18 in her 4 overs, while Shahar Bano chipped in with 1/33. Rozina Akram kept things exceptionally tight, returning 0/18 from her 4 overs, whereas Mah Noor (0/11) and Aqsa Habib (0/20) provided supplementary overs.
Chasing a target of 125, Pakistan Women’s U19 suffered an immediate shock when opener Ravail Farhan was bowled by Sri Lankan skipper Chamudi Praboda for a duck off the 6th ball of the innings, leaving Pakistan at 5/1. However, opener Komal Khan joined hands with keeper-batter Zoofishan Ayyaz to completely regain control of the run chase. The duo put on an authoritative 74-run stand for the second wicket, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowling unit.
Komal Khan led the charge with a commanding half-century, reaching 50 off 39 balls, laced with 7 boundaries, before being caught and bowled by Aseni Thalagune in the 12th over at 79/2. Ayyaz continued her methodical stay, working singles and striking timely boundaries alongside Aqsa Habib. Limansa Thilakarathna then brought Sri Lanka back into the contest with a double strike, trapping Habib lbw for 4 (87/3) and later having Ayyaz caught by Sewmini for a well-crafted 38 off 41 balls at 113/5.
In between, captain Fizza Fiaz hit a brisk 13 off 14 balls before falling to Praboda at 111/4. With 12 runs needed off the final overs, Shahar Bano played a brilliant game-changing cameo, blasting an unbeaten 11 off just 4 balls, including a match-sealing six alongside Qamrosh Farhan (2 not out off 5). Guided by 7 extras, Pakistan reached 125/5 in 19 overs to complete the 5-wicket victory.
Sri Lanka’s bowling effort was anchored by skipper Chamudi Praboda, who took 2/22 in 4 overs, and spinner Limansa Thilakarathna, who returned figures of 2/24 in 4 overs. Aseni Thalagune bowled economical overs, finishing with 1/24. Pramudi Methsara (0/23) and Nethmi Upeksha (0/13) bowled tightly, while Danodya Sewmini conceded 12 runs in her single over.
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