SL Women vs Pakistan Women 2nd ODI Colombo Recap: Chamari Athapaththu 78

The P Sara Oval has produced some of Sri Lanka's most defining women's cricket evenings, and the second ODI against Pakistan in May 2026 was a contender. Chamari Athapaththu anchored Sri Lanka's innings with 78. Pakistan's left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu produced two late strikes to close out a chase by two wickets. The series is now level at 1-1 with the decider to come at Hambantota.

Sri Lanka's innings: Chamari leads, lower order can't finish

Sri Lanka batted first after losing the toss. Hasini Perera fell early to Diana Baig, and Chamari joined Harshitha Samarawickrama at 18 for 1. Their stand of 88 for the second wicket was the spine of the innings: Chamari driving through cover and pulling Sadia Iqbal in the middle overs, Samarawickrama running hard. After Samarawickrama fell for 41, the captain pushed through to 78 off 89 with seven boundaries and a single six off Nashra Sandhu. Sri Lanka finished 213 for 8 — about 15 short on a good batting surface.

Pakistan's chase: a captain's knock from Muneeba

Muneeba Siddique came in at 24 for 2 after Inoka Ranaweera removed both Pakistan openers in the powerplay. Her 73 off 96 was the chase's spine. With Sidra Amin (38) for the third wicket, Pakistan added 86. The chase wobbled in the death overs: Sugandika Kumari took two wickets in three balls — including Muneeba caught at midwicket — and at 178 for 7 with 36 needed off 38, the match looked Sri Lanka's.

Nashra Sandhu's death cameo with the bat

Nashra Sandhu came in at No. 9 with the chase still hanging. Her 18 not out off 14 included a slog-sweep four off Sugandika and two driven boundaries through cover. She partnered Sadia Iqbal (12 not out off 11) for an unbeaten 36-run stand. Pakistan sealed the win with three balls to spare.

Sri Lanka's missed match-up

The 6.5 overs of off-spin Chamari bowled to Muneeba and Sidra had figures of 0 for 31. Sri Lanka's leg-spinner Achini Kulasuriya bowled just five — the visiting middle order looked uncomfortable against the wrist-spinner but the captain went short on her allocation, holding overs back for a death set that never arrived. The decision will be revisited in the team's review.

Player of the match: Muneeba Siddique

The official award went to Muneeba Siddique for 73 in 96 balls. The pundit's award arguably belongs to Nashra Sandhu — the bowling pressure she applied in the middle overs to remove Anushka Sanjeewani and Kavisha Dilhari was as decisive as her batting cameo.

Where the series sits

After two ODIs in Colombo, the series moves to Hambantota for the decider. Sri Lanka have the form names — Chamari, Samarawickrama, Sugandika — but Pakistan's depth in spin has matched up well. The ICC Women's Championship points implications: the winner of the decider moves above the other in the standings, which feeds into the qualification picture for the next Women's ODI World Cup cycle.

What to watch in ODI three

The Hambantota surface is slightly slower than the P Sara Oval. Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal will be Pakistan's match-winners if their middle overs grip. Sri Lanka should consider opening Sugandika up earlier — the leg-spinner who took the two late wickets in match two is being asked to bowl too late in the innings.

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