Javeria, spinners help Pakistan seal 2-1 series win

Monitoring Desk

Colombo: Pakistan wrapped up their first T20 series win since 2015 courtesy a constricting display from their spin quartet at the SSC. Defending 113 in the deciding third T20I, Pakistan contained Sri Lanka to 75 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Sana Mir, Nashra Sandhu, Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar returning combined figures of 15-0-41-3.

Sri Lanka weren’t helped by their running between the wickets; by the middle of the tenth over they had slipped to 36 for 7, with four of their batsmen run out. They only lost one more wicket after that, but they scored at a crawl, which meant the target kept slipping further and further away. Imalka Mendis, their No. 5, remained unbeaten on 25 off 49 balls, having managed to hit only one four during her stay.

Sent in to bat, Pakistan made a measured start with Sidra Ameen and Nahida Khan adding 33 for the first wicket in seven overs. Ameen added a further 30 for the third wicket with Javeria Khan, who went on to top-score with a run-a-ball 38. Javeria and Dar (16-ball 22) gave the innings what eventually proved a match-winning run-rate boost by putting on 41 in 34 balls for the fourth wicket. Dar would also finish as Pakistan’s most economical bowler, only conceding six runs in her four overs of offspin.