HAMBANTHOTA: Centuries from Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshita Samarawickrama helped Sri Lanka to a comfortable 8-wicket win over Pakistan in the second ODI of the three-match domestic series at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
With the win, Sri Lanka leveled the three-match home series against Pakistan 1-1, with the third and final ODI to be played at the same venue on July 28.
Electing to bat first, the tourists posted an impressive total of 273/5 in their 50 overs courtesy of Chitra’s top score of 100 not out with 13 boundaries off 120 balls.
The right-handed batsman came out to bat in the fifth over with the scoreboard reading 19/1 following the dismissal of Shatab Shamas, who had scored 12 off 16 balls.
During her gutsy innings, Chitra was aided by the middle-order pair of Ayesha Zafar and Muneefa Ali who scored 49 and 45 runs respectively. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana (25) and opener Gul Feroza (27) scored significant runs for the green shirts.
Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Chetana Vimukti and captain Samari Athapatu each scalped for Sri Lanka.
Chasing a tough target of 274 runs, the team easily smashed the winning runs by 2 wickets and 19 balls.
However, Sri Lanka got off to a different start to their quest as Pakistan skipper Fatima was caught by Athabadhu with just 20 runs off the first ball of the fifth over.
After stumbling early on, Samarawickrama joined Gunaratne in the middle and the duo dominated against a spirited Pakistan bowling attack, posting a 203-run second-wicket partnership to put Sri Lanka firmly in control.
Nashra Sandhu, who dismissed the opener in the 40th over after top-scoring Sri Lanka with 123 with 11 fours and a six, eventually bagged the man-of-the-match award.
His dismissal paved the way for batting all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari to drop out and join Samarawickrama in the middle. The duo put on an unbeaten 52 at a blistering pace to lead Sri Lanka to glory.
Dilhari scored an unbeaten 40 off 33 balls, while Samarawickrama returned with an unbeaten 100 off 119 balls with 9 fours.
For Pakistan, Sandhu and captain Fatima can take one wicket each.