Sharjah: Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their first match of the Women's T20 World Cup on Thursday. Batting first, Pakistan's team was all out for 116 runs in 20 overs, but their spinners made this score look like a mountain for the Sri Lankan team, whose team could only score 85 runs for nine wickets.

Captain Chamari failed, Sri Lankan team crumbled under pressure.

Sri Lankan captain Chamari Atapattu could not show any magic in batting and returned to the pavilion after scoring only six runs. Sri Lanka scored 26 runs in the power play and meanwhile lost the wicket of Harshita Samarawickrama (07). Amima Sohail also dismissed new batsman Hansika Perera (08) after bowling her. The Sri Lankan team was struggling after scoring 44 runs for three wickets after 10 overs. Opener Vishpi Gunaratne held one end till the 13th over but she could not score runs at the expected pace which increased the pressure on the team. She scored 20 runs in 34 balls which included a four. Neelakshi de Silva (22) was the second batsman from Sri Lanka to reach double figures.

Pakistani team was able to score 116 runs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, batting first, bundled out Pakistan for 116 runs in 20 overs. The spin duo of Chamari Atapattu and Sugandhika Kumari and medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhini together took nine wickets for Pakistan. If Pakistan's team was able to reach triple digits, the credit goes to captain Fatima Sana who scored 30 runs in 20 balls. From Sri Lanka's side, Sugandhika (three wickets for 19 runs) played an important role in the top order, Atapattu (three wickets for 18 runs) in the middle order, and Prabodhini (three wickets for 20 runs) in the lower order.

Sri Lankan spinners put Pakistan on the backfoot

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan had to struggle from the start against Sri Lanka's spin attack. They lost the wickets of their top three batsmen Gul Ferozza (02), Muniba Ali (11), and Sidra Amin (12) in the power play itself. Meanwhile, Pakistan scored 32 runs. Experienced Nida Dar (23) along with Amima Sohail (18) tried to improve the innings but after their 25-run partnership for the fourth wicket was broken, Pakistan's middle order faltered.

Fatima Sana took the team to a respectable score.

In such a situation, Fatima Sana took the responsibility. Despite not getting enough support from the other end, she hit some powerful shots and took Pakistan to a respectable score. Fatima hit three fours and a six in her innings.