Javeria Khan became the first Pakistan Women batter to score two centuries in One-Day Internationals, setting the base for their 69-run win over Sri Lanka Women in the first match at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday (March 20).
Put into bat, Pakistan rode on Javeria’s unbeaten 113 to post 250 for 6 – their highest total against Sri Lanka. Except for Chamari Athapaththu, the captain who made 46, none of the Sri Lankan batters rose to the occasion. They were bowled out for 181 in 45.2 overs.
With this result, Pakistan took their tally on ICC Women’s Championship table to four points, having won one game against New Zealand Women. Sri Lanka, who lost all their three matches against Windies Women, are yet to open their account.
Put into bat, Pakistan lost both their openers – Nahida Khan and Muneeba Ali, the debutant – within the first five overs. Javeria, who came in at No.3, and Bismah Maroof, the captain, steadied the innings with a 49-run stand.
Maroof and Sidra Amin fell in quick succession, as Pakistan became 72 for 4 in 17.5 overs. It fell upon Javeria to hold the innings together, and she did that with partnerships of 72, 46 and an unbroken 60 with Nida Dar, Sana Mir and Natalia Pervaiz for the fifth, sixth and seventh wickets respectively.
Dar supported Javeria well with a 43-ball 34, which included two fours. Mir also upped the ante with five fours in her 31-ball 27.
Javeria, who had scored her first century also against Sri Lanka in 2015, finished with 15 fours – the most by a Pakistani batter in an innings. She bettered her own record of 14 during a knock of 90 not out against Ireland Women last year.
Shashikala Siriwardene and Athapaththu were Sri Lanka’s best bowlers with two wickets each.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a poor start, as Diana Baig bowled Hasini Perera off the second ball. Nipuni Hansika and Athapaththu put on 51 runs before Mir bowled Hansika for 18.
The big moment came in the 19th over when Nashra Sandhu bowled Athapaththu, who was looking good with six fours and a six in her 57-ball knock.
It led to a slump as Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 20 runs, and Mir took her second wicket as Sri Lanka became 124 for 7.
Siriwardene and Kavisha Dilhari, one of the three debutants in the match, put on 40 runs for the eighth wicket, but it only delayed the inevitable. Siriwardene was the last batter to be out for 44.
Maroof was Pakistan’s most successful bowler with returns of 3 for 17. Mir had equally impressive figures of 2 for 29 in her nine overs.
The second ODI is to be played at the same venue on March 22.