Sri Lanka seal ODI series 2-1 vs Pakistan: Samarawickrama, Athapaththu star in 8-wicket win
Synopsis
Sri Lanka turned a series deficit into a 2-1 triumph by dismantling Pakistan twice in succession. Chethana Vimukthi's three-in-five-balls burst reduced Pakistan to 10 for 3, and Harshitha Samarawickrama's 173-run series haul — capped by an unbeaten 71 in the decider — made the result emphatic. The momentum now shifts to an immediately following T20I series.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in Hambantota on 28 July to seal the women's ODI series 2-1 .
Harshitha Samarawickrama finished unbeaten on 71 and was named Player of the Series with 173 runs , including a century in the second ODI.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu scored 52 off 38 balls and claimed 3 wickets , earning Player of the Match .
Chethana Vimukthi dismissed 3 of Pakistan's top 4 batters in 5 balls , leaving Pakistan at 10 for 3 in the second over.
Pakistan were bowled out for 187 ; Sri Lanka completed the chase with a 106-run unbroken third-wicket stand between Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera (50*) .
The T20I series between the two sides begins immediately after the ODI leg.
Sri Lanka clinched the three-match women's ODI series against Pakistan with a commanding eight-wicket victory in the third and final ODI at Hambantota on Tuesday, 28 July, sealing the series 2-1. Half-centuries from captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Hasini Perera steered the chase with ease, setting up the hosts for the T20I leg that begins immediately after.
Sri Lanka's Dominant Chase
Set 188 to win after dismissing Pakistan for 187, Sri Lanka completed the chase with two wickets down. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne, who had struck a century in the second ODI, fell early for 12 after a 46-run opening stand with Athapaththu. The captain then anchored a 39-run second-wicket partnership with Samarawickrama off 48 balls, reaching her 20th ODI half-century before departing for a fluent 52 off 38 balls.
With the required run rate firmly under control, Samarawickrama and Perera made light work of the remaining target. Perera reached her fifty in the penultimate over, and Samarawickrama sealed the win through extra cover — finishing unbeaten on 71 — to complete the chase in style.
Samarawickrama: Player of the Series
Having accumulated 173 runs across the series — including a match-winning century in the second ODI — Harshitha Samarawickrama was named Player of the Series. The unbroken 106-run third-wicket partnership between Samarawickrama and Perera was the decisive passage of play in the final match. Athapaththu, for her all-round contribution, received the Player of the Match award.
Bowlers Set the Platform
Sri Lanka's bowlers laid the foundation with a blistering opening spell. Chethana Vimukthi ripped through Pakistan's top order in the second over, removing three of the top four batters in just five balls — Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Amin edged behind off deliveries that seamed away, and Ayesha Zafar was caught lbw first ball, leaving Pakistan reeling at 10 for 3.
Pakistan's middle order attempted a recovery through a 68-run stand between Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali, but Athapaththu ended it by trapping Feroza lbw for 40 off 35 balls. Despite three further partnerships of at least 30 runs each, none exceeded 34 as Sri Lanka's bowlers maintained consistent pressure. Muneeba Ali made 34 and Najiha Alvi contributed 30 before Pakistan captain Fatima Sana — who faced 41 of the final 49 deliveries — was run out by Kavisha Dilhari at long-on.
Dilhari finished with three wickets, matching the figures of both Athapaththu and Vimukthi, as Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 187.
Series Context and What's Next
Sri Lanka's series victory is particularly noteworthy given that they lost the opening ODI. Winning the final two matches convincingly demonstrated the home side's resilience and depth. The result provides a significant confidence boost ahead of the T20I series, which gets underway immediately. Pakistan will need to regroup quickly if they are to level the bilateral contest across formats.
Point of View
A pattern that has recurred across bilateral series. Samarawickrama's 173-run series haul, with a century and a match-winning fifty, signals that Sri Lanka now have a genuine number three who can anchor a chase without the captain. The T20I series will reveal whether Pakistan can adapt their batting approach or whether the same vulnerability resurfaces in the shorter format.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan women's ODI series 2025?
Sri Lanka won the three-match women's ODI series 2-1, sealing it with an eight-wicket victory in the third and final ODI at Hambantota on 28 July. They recovered from a first-match defeat to win the final two ODIs convincingly.
Who was named Player of the Series in the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan ODI series?
Harshitha Samarawickrama was named Player of the Series after accumulating 173 runs across the three matches, including a match-winning century in the second ODI and an unbeaten 71 in the decider.
How did Sri Lanka's bowlers perform in the third ODI at Hambantota?
Chethana Vimukthi was the standout performer, dismissing three of Pakistan's top four batters in just five balls in the second over to leave Pakistan at 10 for 3. Vimukthi, Athapaththu, and Kavisha Dilhari each finished with three wickets as Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 187.
What is next for Sri Lanka and Pakistan after the ODI series?
The two sides move immediately into a T20I series, which began on Tuesday following the conclusion of the ODI leg. Sri Lanka will enter the T20Is with significant momentum after their series comeback.
How did Chamari Athapaththu perform in the third ODI?
Athapaththu scored 52 off 38 balls, reaching her 20th ODI half-century, and also claimed three wickets with the ball. Her all-round contribution earned her the Player of the Match award for the third ODI.
