Chamari's blazing knock fires Sri Lanka into gold medal clash
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
A brilliant 8-wicket win over Pakistan – the highest run chase in their T20 history
Powered by Chamari Athapaththu's superb unbeaten 83, Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan by 8 wickets today (20th) to qualify for the final of the women's cricket competition at the Asian Games.
In the first semi-final played in Nishin, Pakistan posted 177 for 4, and the Sri Lankan players overhauled that target in 17.5 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets. Sealing victory with 13 balls to spare, Sri Lanka also recorded the highest successful run chase in their T20 International history.
Sri Lanka Women's previous highest successful T20 chase was 175 runs, and by getting 178 against Pakistan on this occasion they rewrote that record.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, the architect of the Sri Lankan win, faced 50 deliveries and struck 7 fours and 6 huge sixes in her unbeaten 83.
Although Chamari played fairly cautiously in the early part of the Sri Lankan innings, she launched her assault in the eighth over. Taking 20 runs off that over bowled by Momina Riyasat with a six, a four, another six and a four, Chamari swung the control of the match Sri Lanka's way.
Pakistan did have a chance of a wicket off the second six Chamari hit in that over, but when Fatima Sana held the skier at deep midwicket and tried to throw the ball back into the field of play, she stepped on the boundary rope and it became a six.
Chamari then launched a fierce attack on the Pakistani spinners. In the 10th over bowled by Nashra Sandhu, she hit two fours and a six to further accelerate Sri Lanka's victory march.
Hasini Perera, who gave Chamari excellent support, made 42 off 26 balls. With her innings featuring a four and 3 sixes, Chamari and Hasini put on a 95-run stand off 56 balls for the second wicket.
When Hasini fell, Sri Lanka still needed 47 runs off 36 balls, but Chamari, joined thereafter by Harshitha Samarawickrama, completed the winning target without any difficulty.
Imesha Dulani, who gave the Sri Lankan innings a brisk start, made 27 off 21 balls, an innings that included 5 fours.
Batting first, Pakistan made 177 for 4. That was the highest total Pakistan have recorded against Sri Lanka in a women's T20 International.
Ayesha Zafar, the top scorer of the Pakistani innings, made 71 off 40 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Shawaal Zulfiqar scored 54 off 50 balls to register her second T20 International half-century.
Ayesha and Zulfiqar added 115 runs off 70 balls for the third wicket, laying the foundation Pakistan needed to reach a strong total.
But the Sri Lankan batters, led by Chamari Athapaththu, met the challenge Pakistan set in outstanding fashion and, with a record run chase, booked their place in the gold medal contest at the Asian Games.
Pakistan – 177/4 (20 overs)
Ayesha Zafar 71, Shawaal Zulfiqar 54
Sri Lanka – 178/2 (17.5 overs)
Chamari Athapaththu 83 not out, Hasini Perera 42, Imesha Dulani 27
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting