Nashra Sandhu and Gull Feroza help Pakistan begin Sri Lanka tour with comprehensive win
Fatima Sana and Chamari Athapaththu (Source: Sri Lanka Cricket)
Published - 23 Jul 2026, 03:43 PM• Read time - 4 mins
Pakistan’s white‑ball tour of Sri Lanka began on a positive note as they registered a comprehensive five‑wicket win in the first of the three ODIs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota, on July 23 to take a 1‑0 lead.
Left‑arm seamer Tasmia Rubab and slow left‑arm orthodox bowler Nashra Sandhu laid the foundation for the victory. Rubab (2/34) and Sandhu (3/42) accounted for five Sri Lankan batters and exerted immense pressure on their batting line‑up.
In the batting department, it was all about the veteran Sidra Amin and Gull Feroza, who scored fifties to guide their side home in a comfortable chase.
The game began with Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu winning the toss and opting to set a score on the board.
The hosts got off to a steady start, with openers Vishmi Gunaratne and Athapaththu adding 56 in 11.2 overs. Sandhu had Gunaratne caught off Fatima Sana in the 12th over to break the partnership. Athapaththu then added 53 for the second wicket alongside Hasini Perera before she was bowled by Sandhu, just four runs short of a half‑century.
Sri Lanka then lost Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama in quick succession before Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshi Silva added 42 for the fifth wicket. Nilakshi (46* off 50) batted through to the end as Sri Lanka posted 210 for nine.
In reply, Pakistan began positively, with openers Feroza and Sadaf Shamas adding 58 in just 9.5 overs. Athapaththu broke the stand by dismissing Shamas in the 10th over, but Feroza continued to find boundaries and proved difficult to contain. She then added 90 runs for the second wicket with Amin before being dismissed for 78.
Sri Lanka picked up a few wickets in the middle overs, but by then the damage was done, as Pakistan sealed the win with seven overs to spare.
Top run-scorer of the match
|
Player |
Team |
Runs |
Balls |
Fours |
Sixes |
Strike Rate |
| Gull Feroza |
PAK-W |
78 |
77 |
11 |
0 |
101.29 |
Top wicket-taker of the match
|
Player |
Team |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
| Nashra Sandhu |
PAK-W |
10 |
0 |
42 |
3 |
4.20 |
Player of the Match
Gull Feroza
Gull Feroza's enterprising knock turned the chase into a cakewalk for Pakistan. Feroza played with gumption and struck 11 fours to ensure Pakistan were never behind the curve.
Turning Point
There were two major turning points in the contest. The lack of a major partnership in Sri Lanka's innings meant they were never in contention to score big despite having the advantage of batting first on a placid track. Meanwhile, the 90-run stand between Amin and Feroza proved to be the difference in the second innings.