Sri Lanka beat battling Pakistan

Sri Lanka 178 for 9 (Dedunu 52*, Mumtaz 3-40) beat Pakistan 164 48.2 over (Qadeer 42, de Alwis 4-24) by 14 runs
Scorecard

Pakistan's women cricketers narrowly lost the opening match of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka, falling by 14 runs. Chasing 179 to win, Pakistan needed 15 from the final over but lost their last wicket off the second ball.

Sri Lanka reached a competitive total of 178 for 9 largely thanks to Dumila Dedunu, who top-scored with 52. Pakistan's bowlers resticted the visitors to 130 for 7, before Inoka Galagedera (25) and Praba Udawatte (22*) helped their team to a total of some respectability. The leg-spinner, Urooj Fatima, was the pick of Pakistan's bowlers taking 3 for 40.

Pakistan's openers, Tasqeen Qadeer and Sajjida Shah, got the home side off to a useful start with a partnership of 33, but Suwini de Alwis (4 for 24) and captain Shsikala Siriwardene (3 for 32) had Pakistan stumbling on 88 for 6. A seventh-wicket stand of 66 between Sana Mir Asmavia Iqbal nearly won the match Pakistan, before running 14 runs short.

Sri Lanka now meet India on Thursday. All teams will play each other twice with the top two teams going through to the final on January 4.