Pakistan Women posted 176 for 7. Sri Lanka Women chased it down in 19 overs. Imesha Dulani made history.
176/7 (20 ov)
Pakistan Women
177/4 (19 ov)
Sri Lanka Women
Imesha Dulani scored 101 not out off 64 balls at Dambulla on July 31, 2026. Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by 6 wickets with 6 balls remaining. Sri Lanka lead the three-match T20I series 1-0.
Pakistan Women started well. Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put on 66 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Muneeba hit 42 off 24 balls before she was run out at 6.3 overs. Zulfiqar kept the innings moving. She reached 50 off 34 balls and finished with 63 off 41, batting into the 16th over. Pakistan made 176 for 7. At Dambulla, where 160 has often been enough to win, that looked competitive.
Sri Lanka’s powerplay erased that advantage. Dulani and Athapaththu scored 67 in the first six overs without losing a wicket. Athapaththu hit 39 off 22 before Nashra Sandhu dismissed her at 7.1 overs. Sri Lanka lost three more wickets in the middle overs. Dulani did not.
17
Fours in Dulani’s innings
Dulani’s hundred came off 63 balls. She hit 17 fours and one six. Sri Lanka’s required rate never became a concern. They had scored at 11.16 per over in the powerplay. Dulani guided Sri Lanka through the difficult middle period, choosing her moments and keeping the chase calm. Nilakshika Silva finished the job with 9 not out off 4 balls as Sri Lanka crossed the target in the 19th over.
History Made at Dambulla
Dulani’s 101 not out is Sri Lanka’s fifth T20I century and the first by a Sri Lanka woman not named Chamari Athapaththu. Dulani is 24 years old. She hit only one six but cracked 17 fours. Her strike rate was 157.81.
Pakistan Women Innings – 176/7 (20 Ov)
M. Ali (C)
run out (Silva)
42
24
175.0
S. Zulfiqar
b Praboda
63
41
153.7
E. Naseer
c Sewwandi b Dilhari
21
27
77.8
A. Zafar
c Silva b Kumari
17
11
154.5
E. Fatima
c Dulani b Dilhari
5
5
100.0
S. Jabeen
c Athapaththu b Kavindi
13
8
162.5
U. Hani*
Not out
5
3
166.7
Sri Lanka Women Innings – 177/4 (19 Ov)
I. Dulani*
Not out
101*
64
157.81
C. Athapaththu (C)
c Umm-e-Hani b Sandhu
39
22
177.27
V. Gunaratne
c A. Zafar b Umm-e-Hani
3
4
75.00
H. Samarawickrama
c Umm-e-Hani b Sandhu
7
6
116.66
K. Dilhari
c sub b H. Bilal
11
14
78.57
N. Silva*
Not out
9*
4
225.00
Pakistan made 176. At Dambulla that should have been enough.
Dulani made it irrelevant.
Pakistan’s bowlers could not contain Dulani. Nashra Sandhu was the pick with 2 for 25 from 4 overs. Kavisha Dilhari took 2 for 36 for Sri Lanka in the first innings. Neither side found seam bowling useful. The seamers went wicketless in both powerplays. Spin decided this match.
Pakistan must now win both remaining T20Is to take the series. They already lost the ODI series 2-1. Muneeba Ali captains in the absence of Fatima Sana, who is at The Hundred 2026 in the United Kingdom. Pakistan’s top order batted well. 176 for 7 on this ground showed intent. The problem was Dulani.
Dulani has been in form across formats in 2026. Her 101 not out on July 31 was the fifth T20I century for Sri Lanka women and the first by any Sri Lanka woman other than Athapaththu. She is 24. There is more to come.
People Also Ask
Who won the 1st T20I between Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women?
Sri Lanka Women won by 6 wickets with 6 balls remaining in Dambulla on July 31, 2026. Sri Lanka chased 177 in 19 overs. They lead the three-match series 1-0.
How many runs did Imesha Dulani score against Pakistan Women?
Imesha Dulani scored 101 not out off 64 balls. She hit 17 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 157.81. She was named Player of the Match.
How did Pakistan Women bat in the 1st T20I?
Pakistan Women scored 176 for 7 in 20 overs. Shawaal Zulfiqar top-scored with 63 off 41. Muneeba Ali hit 42 off 24 in the powerplay. Pakistan scored 64 in the first six overs without losing a wicket.
Is Imesha Dulani’s century a record for Sri Lanka Women?
It is the fifth T20I century for Sri Lanka Women and the first by a player other than Chamari Athapaththu. Dulani completed her hundred off 63 balls at Dambulla on July 31, 2026.
What is the series score after the 1st T20I?
Sri Lanka Women lead 1-0. Pakistan must win both remaining matches in the three-match series to take the silverware.
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