In a thrilling start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, Pakistan achieved their first victory in four encounters against Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka, winning by 31 runs. Despite Sri Lanka’s impressive form since the last T20 World Cup, where they won three out of six bilateral series and 22 of 32 matches, Pakistan exploited the slow and low conditions of the Sharjah pitch to secure the win.
Scoring proved challenging on the tournament's opening day, with run rates failing to exceed six an over. Although Pakistan's total of 116 seemed inadequate, none of their top six batters exceeded 23 runs, and partnerships rarely exceeded 25. Captain Fatima Sana emerged as the leading scorer with 30 runs, while Sri Lanka’s Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari, and Chamari Athapaththu each claimed three wickets.
Encouraged by their fielding performance, Sri Lanka believed they could chase down the target, but they struggled with the bat, particularly against Pakistan’s spin attack. The lack of pace on the ball and the spin from Omaima Sohail proved challenging for Sri Lankan batters, leaving them reeling at 52 for 5 by the 13th over, a position from which they could not recover.
The tournament witnessed its first six in the third over of the second match, struck by Muneeba Ali, Pakistan's only centurion in the format, as she hit a 63-metre shot over the midwicket boundary off Prabodhani. Overall, boundaries were scarce, with Pakistan managing only two sixes and five fours, while Sri Lanka managed just three fours.
Athapaththu initially put pressure on Pakistan by taking the wicket of Sidra Amin and making effective bowling changes. In the 14th over, she came back to bowl and soon found success by dismissing Tuba Hassan and then attempting a hat-trick against Aliya Riaz, who was eventually out for lbw. Athapaththu ended her spell with impressive figures of 3 for 18.
While Sana’s decision to bat at No. 7 was initially questioned, her 30 off 20 balls proved crucial in turning the game. After Baig sustained an injury, Sana stepped up, claiming the wicket of Athapaththu and maintaining pressure on the Sri Lankan batters. Following Athapaththu's dismissal, Sri Lanka was left struggling, ending the powerplay at 26 for 2 with a required run rate of 6.50.
Sri Lanka faced near defeat when Vishmi Gunaratne’s dismissal left them at 52 for 5, illustrating the frustration of their batting as they struggled against the Pakistan spin attack. While Sri Lanka managed 47 singles and nine twos, Pakistan’s slightly better performance with 51 singles and 11 twos proved decisive in this tight contest.