Imesha Dulani now has a T20I century, the fifth for Sri Lanka and the first if Chamari Athapaththu never existed. She could not have asked for a more dominant innings to be earmarked with her maiden hundred as she almost single-handedly steered the side to a win in the first T20I against Pakistan.
Pakistan go above par in 1st innings
Pakistan, who came to the series with a 2-1 loss in the ODI leg, would have been the happier side after the first innings. Thanks to a formidable top-order, particularly captain Muneeba Ali, who scored 42 off 24 and carried the bulk of the scoring in the powerplay, and Shawaal Zulfiqar, who amassed 63 runs and stayed at the crease till the death overs, the visitors were able to set a 176-run target.
That could easily have been more, given they were 127 for two at the 15th over mark, but at a venue where 150-160 is enough to get over the line, the target seemed rather decent.
Dulani and Athapaththu in powerplay
Pakistan would, however, find that not to be the case. Sri Lanka began the thrashing from the get-go, with Dulani coming in at No. 1 for the first time in her career. Naturally, she took a couple of overs getting started, but Athapaththu seemed happy to lead from the front while she did so.
Dulani’s first show of aggression came against Humna Bilal in the third over as she sent her for four boundaries. By the time the fielding restrictions were loosened, Sri Lanka were 67 for no loss.
Dulani stayed to see the game out
Nashra Sandhu brought Pakistan relief, and a big one at that, as she neutralised the Athapaththu threat in the eighth over. Two quick wickets, Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama, gave Pakistan some hope. But that was ever so ruthlessly stripped by Dulani, who scored 32 runs off her next 19 balls and got the home side right back into the game.
It was only a matter of time before the inevitable occurred for Pakistan, which did so in the 19th over, handing Sri Lanka a six-wicket win.
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