A historic night of women's T20 International cricket unfolded at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, where Sri Lanka Women pulled off their highest-ever successful WT20I run chase to defeat Pakistan Women by six wickets.

Despite a career-best performance from Pakistan opener Shawaal Zulfiqar, an extraordinary maiden international century from Sri Lanka's Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight and secured a 1-0 series lead for the hosts.

Match Summary at a Glance

• Result: Sri Lanka Women won by 6 wickets (with 6 balls remaining).

• Pakistan Women: 176/7 in 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 63, Muneeba Ali 42; Kavisha Dilhari 2/36).

• Sri Lanka Women: 177/4 in 19 overs (Imesha Dulani 101*, Chamari Athapaththu 39; Nashra Sundhu 2/25).

• Player of the Match: Imesha Dulani (Sri Lanka).

Shawaal Zulfiqar Powers Pakistan to a Record Total

Optioning to bat first after losing the toss, Pakistan was handed a blistering start by opening pair Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar. The duo dismantled the Sri Lankan attack early on, accumulating 64 runs in the powerplay.

Muneeba scored a rapid 42 off just 24 deliveries—featuring nine boundaries—before being run out in the seventh over. Shawaal then took charge, registering her maiden WT20I half-century. Striking 10 fours and a six, she compiled a brilliant 63 off 41 balls.

Supported by debutant Eman Naseer (21 off 27) and late cameos from Saira Jabeen, Pakistan closed their innings at 176/7 in 20 overs. This marked Pakistan's highest-ever WT20I team total on Sri Lankan soil.

Imesha Dulani Makes History in Sensational Chase

Chasing a daunting target of 177, Sri Lanka launched an aggressive counter-attack. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu set the tone early with a quickfire 39 off 22 balls. However, it was opening partner Imesha Dulani who played the defining knock of the night.

Dulani anchored the chase with ruthless precision, becoming only the second Sri Lankan woman in history to score a T20I century after Athapaththu.

Key Stats from Dulani's Knock:

• Runs: 101* off 64 balls

• Boundaries: 17 fours and 1 six

• Milestone: First Sri Lankan woman other than Chamari Athapaththu to score a T20I hundred.

Even as Pakistan’s Nashra Sundhu (2/25) and Umm-e-Hani tried to drag their side back into the contest with disciplined bowling, Dulani kept the required run rate under control. Sri Lanka comfortably crossed the finish line at 177/4 at the end of the 19th over.

What’s Next in the Series?

With Sri Lanka taking a 1-0 lead, Pakistan will look to bounce back and level the three-match series in the upcoming fixtures at Dambulla:

• 2nd WT20I: Sunday, August 2, 2026

• 3rd WT20I: Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (People Also Ask)

Who scored the fastest century in Sri Lanka Women's T20I history?

Chamari Athapaththu holds the record for Sri Lanka, but Imesha Dulani's 101* off 64 balls against Pakistan makes her only the second Sri Lankan female cricketer to reach the three-digit mark in T20Is.

What was Pakistan's highest WT20I score on Sri Lankan soil?

Pakistan's total of 176/7 in the first T20I on July 31, 2026, became their highest-ever T20I score recorded in Sri Lanka.