Series: Sri Lanka in Pakistan May/Jun 2022
Venue: Southend Club Cricket Stadium, Karachi
Format: T20I
Toss: Sri Lanka
Result: Pakistan by 6 wickets

Tuba Plays and Pakistan Dances

A sensational debut performance by leg spinner Tuba Hassan has spun Pakistan to victory in the first T20 International against Sri Lanka in Karachi. Tuba sat on the sidelines for the entire ODI World Cup in March. Perhaps she should have played!

In blistering hot conditions at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium, Chamari Athapaththu won the toss for Sri Lanka and wisely chose to bat first. Let the opposition field first in the hottest part of the day.

Heat aside, Pakistan came ready to play and opened up the bowling with the familiar face of left-arm slow bowler Anam Amin. She relishes the role. After being driven to the boundary by Hasini Perera, the bowler immediately struck back, dismissing the batter with a smart catch off her own bowler. This started a trend that Sri Lanka from which never recovered.

In her second over, the third of the innings, Anam Amin was once again crunched to the boundary, this time by the Sri Lanka captain. As with her previous over, Anam struck again, dismissing Chamari Athapaththu for just 6 runs, leaving the team struggling on 13/2.

There was nothing in this pitch for the pace bowlers. Fatima Sana toiled bravely in the heat but was removed after two overs. A small recovery in the batting took Sri Lanka t0 51 in the 10th over, but this was also the introduction of the leg spinner making her debut.

Tuba has a classic leg spinner’s approach and delivery, and she can a spin a ball! She removed Anushka Sanjeewani with her second delivery in international cricket. In her second over she got one to turn sharply to the left handed Harshitha Madavi (25) and bowled her. Recovery over, Sri Lanka 58/4. Tuba took her third wicket in the 12th over, Kavisha Dilhari caught with the safe hands of Aliya Riaz, Sri Lanka 64/5.

Sri Lanka never recovered, but did manage to pass the century total, 106/8 after their 20 overs. Tuba Hassan (3-8) and Anam Amin (3-21) were exceptional, but they were backed up by some excellent fielding – not an easy outfield to work on, especially in the heat but the Pakistan fielders were splendid.

Pakistan had another debutant playing today in the form of Gull Feroza who opened the batting and unfortunately fell for a second ball duck. One presumes there are brighter days ahead for the batter, but the dismissal was exactly what was needed for Sri Lanka.

That brought Iram Javed to the crease and she played an enterprising knock of 18 before being stumped by Sanjeewani. It was a case of third time lucky for the Sri Lanka keeper who missed two straight forward stumpings in the previous over.

Bismah Maroof (28) and Muneeba Ali (18) steadied the ship, but lost the latter in the 9th over when she was trying to step on the pace. Increase the run rate? I have just the batter for that purpose. Enter Nida Dar who scored 36 not out from 27 deliveries to guide Pakistan to victory. The innings included a six to cow corner, followed by a dab to third man for the winning run, Pakistan home comfortably by six wickets.

As with the home team, the Sri Lankan fielding in the deep was excellent, given the conditions. Both teams deserve kudos for their commitment in this regard.

Player of the match was Tuba with the outstanding return of 3-8 from 4 overs.

Scores:

Sri Lanka 106/8 (Harshitha Madavi 25, Nilakshi de Silva 25, Tuba Hassan 3-8, Anam Amin 3-21, Aiman Anwer 2-32) 20 overs
Pakistan 107/4 (Nida Dar 36*, Bismah Maroof 28, Oshadi Ranasinghe 2-20) 18.2 overs

Player of the Match: Tuba Hassan

All photos: Pakistan Cricket Board