Clinical Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to clinch women's T20I series

Dominant all-round display seals series

Sri Lanka Women produced a clinical all-round performance to swat aside Pakistan by six wickets in the second T20I at Dambulla on Sunday, clinching the three-match series with one game still to play.

The hosts, who had already taken the ODI leg, completed a white-ball double over the visitors with a composed chase that never looked in trouble. The win caps a thoroughly professional week for Sri Lanka, who have now asserted their dominance across both formats.

Bowlers set up the platform

After being asked to field first, Sri Lanka's bowlers kept Pakistan on a tight leash. Kavindi was the pick of the attack, striking at crucial moments to derail the visitors' innings. Pakistan's batters struggled to find momentum on a surface that offered some assistance to the spinners, and regular wickets meant they could never quite break free.

The visitors managed a modest total, one that always looked below par on a ground where Sri Lanka have been particularly strong in recent months. The hosts' fielding was sharp, and the pressure applied by the bowlers ensured Pakistan never had a platform to launch a late assault.

Athapaththu anchors the chase

In reply, Sri Lanka's chase was built around a steady knock from skipper Chamari Athapaththu. She anchored the innings with characteristic calm, rotating the strike and punishing anything loose. Kavindi, who had earlier impressed with the ball, chipped in with a useful contribution to ensure there were no nervy moments.

The required run rate never spiralled, and Sri Lanka knocked off the target with more than an over to spare. The victory was set up by the bowlers but finished off with the bat, a sign of the balance and depth this side now possesses.

Pakistan left with questions

For Pakistan, the defeat will sting, particularly after Muneeba Ali's side had spoken about competing hard in the series. Their batting unit has struggled to adapt to the conditions, and too many batters got starts without converting them into meaningful scores. The bowling, too, lacked the incision needed to defend a modest total.

The visitors will now look to salvage pride in the final T20I, but the series has already slipped away. Sri Lanka, by contrast, will be brimming with confidence, having swept the ODIs and now sealed the T20Is with a game to spare.

What's next

The third and final T20I is set to be played at the same venue, with Sri Lanka aiming for a clean sweep. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be desperate to end the tour on a positive note. All eyes will be on whether the visitors can finally crack the code against a Sri Lankan side that has been near flawless across both formats.