Sri Lanka 191 for 2 (Samarawikrama 71*, Athapathu 52, Hosseini 50*, Sana 1-34) Pakistan 187 (Sana 41, Dilhari 3-27, Athappathu 3-27, Vimukthi 3-36) with eight wickets.
After the visitors bowled out for 187, Sri Lanka’s top order made sure there were no obstacles in their run towards the target. Vishmi Gunaratne, who crossed a century in the second ODI, fell cheaply for 12, but not before providing the hosts with a quick start alongside Athapaththu.
Athapaththu fell shortly after crossing fifty for a 38-ball 52, and it was Sri Lanka’s last wicket to fall as Hasini and Samarawickrama saw off the chase with a sustained 106-run partnership for the third wicket. Hosseini reached her fifty in what turned out to be the penultimate over of the chase, although it was Samarawickrama who had the chance to score the winning runs, and she did so in style with a reliable drive through extra cover to remain unbeaten on 71.
Samarawickrama was named Player of the Series after her 173 innings, including a match-winning century in the second ODI.
It was a brilliant display of seam bowling, with Vimukthi getting both Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Amin to play off themselves, and advance in behind with fielders who had veered wide, before bringing the ball back for Ayesha Zafar to trap on the first ball.
It was a devastating start for Pakistan, a setback from which they struggled to recover. They were 10 for 3, before a 68-run stand between Nurse Firoza and Muniba Ali strengthened the innings somewhat. But a missed sweep from Feroza saw her give away a pound from Athapaththu for a counter-attacking 40 off 35 deliveries. It was a crucial point in the match as Pakistan were just looking to get themselves back into the games.
From that point onwards, Pakistan managed to amass three more stands of at least 30 stands, but the highest of those stood was 34, as Sri Lanka continued to chop up and eliminate any threats at pivotal moments. Muniba (34) cut into the gully, while Najia Alwi (30) cut a leading edge to Athapathu; They both started, but neither was able to continue.
