Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table: Updated standings after Sri Lanka vs Pakistan match
The Pakistan women's team pulled off a tight and clinical bowling display to defend a 117-run target in the opening clash of Group A of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka. The Fatima Sana-led side defeated the Asia Cup champions by 31 runs to claim their first set of points in the tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The contest followed the same pattern as the opening match of the tournament, played at the same venue earlier this afternoon. Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss and struggled to put runs on the board. Sugandika Kumari, Chamari Athapaththu, and Udeshika Prabodhani picked up three wickets each to bowl out Pakistan for 116.
Sri Lanka never got going in the run chase. They lost the key wicket of skipper Chamari Aththapaththu in the third over as she tried to go over the off-side, failing to get sufficient elevation. Things only got worse for the island nation after Omaima Sohail struck twice to reduce them to 35-3 in the eighth over.
Pakistan kept pressure on with spin, not allowing a single boundary post the eighth over. Only two Sri Lanka batters managed to record double figures as they ended up with a dismal effort of 85-9 in the run chase to wrap up the contest.
As far as the points table is concerned, the comfortable margin of victory gives Pakistan a nice early boost to their net run-rate (NRR) along with the two points. They now lead the Group A points table with a NRR of 1.550.
Pakistan will face India in a high-octane clash on October 6
The Women in Green will hope to make the most of the early momentum by making life difficult for their arch-rivals India on Sunday, October 6, at the Dubai International Stadium.
Barring a few issues with their batting department and a potential injury to Diana Baig, they do not have too much to be concerned about. They have certainly made a huge statement with a win over the in-form Sri Lanka side, and can go onto make lives difficult for others in the group of death.