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Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) will take on Pakistan Women (PAK-W) in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Friday, July 31. The hosts will enter the contest with plenty of confidence after clinching the recently concluded ODI series 2-1.
Several players from both teams impressed in the 50-over leg and will now look to carry that momentum into the shortest format. With both sides boasting experienced campaigners and exciting young talents, a few key individual battles could decide the outcome of the series opener.
Here are the top three player battles to watch out for in the first T20I:
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu remains the biggest match-winner in the home side’s batting lineup. The left-handed opener scored 99 runs in the ODI series while also contributing with the ball by picking up five wickets, underlining her all-round value.
Pakistan will rely on left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu to keep Athapaththu quiet during the powerplay and middle overs. Nashra finished the ODI series with four wickets and has the ability to trouble aggressive batters with her accuracy and variations. If she can dismiss Athapaththu early, Pakistan will gain a significant advantage.
Pakistan captain Muneeba Ali will have the responsibility of providing a solid start at the top of the order. Although she managed 80 runs in the ODI series, the wicketkeeper-batter will be eager to convert her starts into a match-winning knock in the T20Is.
Standing in her way will be Sri Lanka’s in-form all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari, who enjoyed an outstanding ODI series. Dilhari not only scored 75 runs but also finished as the leading wicket-taker with six scalps. Her disciplined off-spin and ability to strike in the powerplay make this an intriguing contest.
Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama heads into the T20I series as the batter in the best form across both teams. She was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded ODI series, amassing 173 runs in three innings at an astonishing average of 173.00. Her ability to rotate the strike and punish loose deliveries makes her the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
Pakistan will bank on leg-spinner Tuba Hassan to break that rhythm in the middle overs. One of Pakistan’s most experienced T20 bowlers, Tuba has the knack of picking up crucial wickets while keeping the scoring rate under control. If she manages to remove Harshitha early, Pakistan can put Sri Lanka’s middle order under pressure. However, if Harshitha continues the form she displayed in the ODI series, the hosts could gain complete control of the contest.
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