Pakistan Women take series winning 2-0 lead against SL

Pakistan survived an early wobble with the bat to ease to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, wrapping up a series win with a game to spare in the second WT20I played at Karachi yesterday. 

In a game that almost felt like a carbon copy of the first, Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first, only for a tight, disciplined bowling performance from the hosts, limiting them to a sub-par 102. 

Just like the first game, there was a touch of circumspection about Pakistan's chase to begin with, losing three early wickets. But a classy partnership between Ayesha Naseem and Bismah Maroof took control of the proceedings, their unbeaten stand yielding 70 runs off 58 balls and a game that looked like it would get bogged down finished in a hurry.

As in the first game, Sri Lanka lacked intent at the start and Pakistan were all over them in the powerplay. The first five overs saw just 14 runs scored and Anam Amin removed Chamari Athapaththu once more. Nida Dar struck soon after to dismiss Oshadi Ranasinghe, leaving Sri Lanka to try and regroup while they were well behind the asking rate.

Last match's star Tuba Hassan was responsible for the removal of Sri Lanka's top scorer Hasini Perera and was the pick of the bowlers once more, allowing just 13 runs in her four overs. As each of the Pakistan bowlers chipped in with a wicket, the Sri Lankan batting began to fall away. In a somewhat insipid, uninspiring innings, the visitors stumbled to 102.

Sloppiness crept into the Sri Lankans' game, too, epitomised by five careless overthrow runs that brought Pakistan to within ten runs of victory. The win was sealed with an aerial slap off Oshadi Ranasinghe by Naseem that landed just inside the rope as she finished with an unbeaten 45 off 31 balls, with the last 28 runs coming off just 10 balls. The result means Pakistan has the chance to seal a clean sweep when the sides meet again for the final T20 on Saturday.