PAK-W vs SL-W Ball by Ball Commentary

That's it, it's all over, and Sri Lanka Women punch their ticket for the gold medal match. Nashra Sundhu drops it short and wide, Harshitha Samarawickrama rocks back and pounces on the width, slapping it to the right of point. The batters cross for one and the ball has run away to the fence as well. It doesn't matter as a run is all that was needed. Sri Lanka Women win by 8 wickets.

Lofted away over the infield, a safe shot. Tossed up outside off, Harshitha skips down the pitch and hits it over covers for a couple of runs. The scores are now level.

WIDE! Full and spilled down the leg side, the keeper misses it as well. The ball rolls down to short fine leg and the batters cross.

Full and straight, driven back past the bowler for a single.

Flatter and outside off, cut away to the backward point fielder.

FOUR! Floated up, wide outside off, Harshitha Samarawickrama does well to reach it and drives it uppishly past point for a boundary.

FOUR! Too short and on the pads, Athapaththu moves inside the line and hits it hard down to long leg for yet another boundary.

Flighted ball on off, eased down to long off for a run.

Floated full and on leg, Harshitha comes forward and smothers it away to the bowler.

FOUR! A boundary after a dropped catch, and so often we see that. Short and on the pads, Harshitha Samarawickrama drags it off the back foot and well behind square leg for a boundary.

DROPPED! Riaz has put down a sitter. Nicely tossed up, around off, Athapaththu leans on and lifts it down to long off, where the fielder doesn't get forward enough and puts it down. Athapaththu breathes a sigh of relief as she gets across for the single.

Oh, nearly undone by the spin. Tossed up on the stumps, Samarawickrama slogs it away to deep square leg, but the ball hits the turf and spins to the left. The fielder manages to get a hand on it and a single is taken.

A fumble now, and another single is taken. Just 21 more needed off 24 balls. Short and around off, cut away to point for a single.

A bit sloppy from Pakistan in the field. Slower and shorter on off, Athapaththu waits back and dabs it to short third. The throw at the non-striker's end bounces awkwardly and the bowler fails to collect it, allowing the batters to get an overthrow.

SIX! That's massive, and the 150 comes up for Sri Lanka Women. Tossed up on off, Chamari Athapaththu dances down the track and pummels it over long off for a six.

SIX! Bludgeoned away! Fired in, full and on middle and leg. Athapaththu shuffles to the off side and heaves it flat and square over the on side for a biggie.

An appeal for LBW, but turned down. Replays show a big inside edge on it. Flatter on leg, angled across. Athapaththu sits down to sweep but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Flighted ball around off, Harshitha Samarawickrama gets across and sweeps it more off the top edge and down to deep backward square leg for a single.

Back of a length, on the leg stump, Harshitha Samarawickrama gently taps it to the mid-wicket region for a quick single.

An attempted yorker on the stumps, Chamari charges down the track and shovels it out to long off for a single.

FOUR MORE! This is marvellous ball-striking. A bit fuller this time around but width offered again, outside off. Chamari Athapaththu swings hard and flays it through backward point and cover for a cracking boundary.

FOUR! Absolutely glorious! Not all that short from Sana, but outside the off stump which allows the Lankan skipper to free her arms. She goes deep inside the crease and cuts it surgically between cover and point for a boundary.

Beaten! Wide of off and full, right into the blockhole, Chamari Athapaththu looks to jam it out by shuffling across, but misses out.

WIDE! Way too short and down the leg stump line. Chamari Athapaththu misses the pull. Wide called for height.

Angling across off from over the wicket, Chamari looks to take it on the full for the drive through covers but she misses to connect.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sundhu strikes at a very crucial time and breaks the 95-run partnership. Pakistan will look to make more inroads now. Full and outside off, Hasini charges down the track looking to lift it over extra cover, but the timing completely deserts her. Umm-e-Hani doesn't need to move much at extra cover, and takes a simple catch inside the ring. A fine knock from Hasini and Sri Lanka Women are 131/2, needing 47 runs from 36 balls.

Around off and full, Chamari Athapaththu looks to loft it over cover, but gets it off the inner half and the ball rolls down to long on for a single.

Slows it up, ful in length, Perera skips down the track and drills it to long on for a single.

Full and flat, on off, Chamari blasts it down to long off for a single.

SIX! FIFTY FOR CHAMARI! From just 37 balls and this is Athapaththu at her very best. Full and outside off, and Chamari walks across her stumps to hammer it away over long on for half a dozen runs. She is taking the game away from Pakistan's reach now. It's Athapaththu's 16th T20I half-century, and fittingly, it has arrived in a must-win semifinal.

Short and outside off, Hasini hangs back and cut it powerfully to the left of the cover fielder who dives and makes a half-stop. One run taken.

A bit short and outside off, Hasini Perera firmly cuts it to deep cover-point for a single.

Shortish delivery, outside off, Hasini cuts it to deep point. The fielder there races to her right and slides to make the stop. Two runs taken.

SIX! PUNISHED! On a fuller length, on the stumps, spinning in. Hasini Perera picks the length, goes down on a knee and nails the slog sweep over the leaping deep square leg fielder for another six.

Full toss on the stumps, driven away to cover.

FOUR! Up and over! In complete control. Slot ball, around off, Hasini Perera lofts it effortlessly over the bowler's head for a boundary.

SIX! Into overdrive mode goes Perera. Full in length and spinning in from the pitch, Hasini gets underneath the ball and swings it over deep mid-wicket for a six. Clean strike.

Too full again, on leg, Hasini Perera drills it down to long on for a single.

Full outside off, Chamari skips down the track and hammers it to long off for a single.

Play and a miss! Goes on with the arm, full and outside off, Chamari Athapaththu looks to drive it away but misses to connect.

Quicker and fuller, on the stumps, Chamari Athapaththu drills it back to the bowler.

In the air but safe! This bring the 100 up for Sri Lanka Women! Full and outside off, Hasini gets across and looks to slog it over deep mid-wicket but she mistimes it in the air, but the ball drops safely in the outfield. Single taken.

On a length and Chamari swings it across to deep square leg for a single.

Beaten! Arm ball that drifts across from around the stump, on a length. Hasini goes for the cut shot but misses to connect.

SIX! All the way! Attack from both ends now. Dropped into the slot, full and on leg, Hasini Perera gets down on a knee and sweeps it powerfully over deep backward square leg for a six.

Slightly outside leg on a fuller length, Chamari Athapaththu sweeps it to the right of deep square leg. The fielder in the deep fumbles but the batters do not run the first run hard and have to settle in for a single only.

Too full and on the stumps, this is worked through mid-wicket for a single.

Full and on the pads, whipped across to deep square leg for a single.

Dropped full and on leg, Hasini slogs it on the bounce to long on for a single.

SIX! Easy power from Athapaththu. Floated up at the stumps, right in the slot. Chamari takes the front leg out and smokes it straight back down the ground for a biggie. Sri Lanka Women are racing along at 88/1 after 10 overs.

Bowled flatter and outside off, Athapaththu tries to cut it away but miscues it to backward point.

Athapaththu loses her shape here. Sundhu bowls this one full and wide of the off stump. Athapaththu lunges across and probably thinks about one too many shots at the same time, failing to connect at all.

Flighted delivery, this time outside off. Athapaththu goes hard at it and hits it straight to covers.

FOUR! That's been bashed away to the fence now. Floated up on middle, Athapaththu goes on one knee and swats it across the line, and towards deep mid-wicket for another boundary.

FOUR! That's gone into the fence. Full ball on off, Athapaththu walks away to the off side and sits down, sweeping it wide of the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

On the shorter side and around off, Perera goes on the back foot and pushes it out to cover.

Dropped short and around off and middle, Chamari hangs back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Nice and full, driven on the up to long off for one more.

Slower now, and around the pads, tucked away wide of square leg for a single.

Half an appeal for LBW, but turned down. Full and quick, around leg stump. Athapaththu looks to flick but misses and the ball hits her on the pads.

Full and on leg, hit away to long on for a single.

FOUR! 20 off the over and Athapaththu is flying now. Too full and wide, hit away over the off side for yet another boundary.

SIX! Nearly a superb effort in the deep from Fatima Sana, but it goes in vain. Riasat shortens the length, bowling it flatter too, and Athapaththu drags it from outside off towards deep mid-wicket. This is hit firmly and flatly and Sana loses her footing. She takes the catch but knows that she is going back over the ropes and palms the ball down. However, the fingers are still in contact with the ball when she touches the ropes with her feet.

FOUR! It seems like Athapaththu has decided to shift gears. Floated up outside off, Athapaththu reaches for it and scythes it over cover-point for a boundary now.

SIX! Rubbing salt into the wounds. Tossed up on the stumps, Athapaththu just leans across and lays into the slog-sweep, whacking it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Edged, and dropped this time! A certain deflection off the outside edge but Gull Feroza has shelled it. Shortish length again, outside off. Athapaththu goes for the cut and edges it behind, but the keeper, Ayesha Zafar, fails to gather a sharp chance.

A huge appeal for caught behind, but the umpire remains unmoved. Short and wide outside off, Athapaththu rocks back to cut but misses and Gull Feroza cannot believe that it wasn't given out.

Floated up wide of the off stump, on a length. Perera backs away and jams it down to cover-point.

FOUR! Loopy delivery, floated down the leg side. Hasini Perera moves inside the line and shovels the sweep down to fine leg for a boundary. 50 up for Sri Lanka Women. In 6.5 overs.

Lovely bit of bowling. Bowled from the front of the hand, tossed up around off and going away. Perera is beaten all ends up.

Dragged length around off, Athapaththu moves across and gets side on, forcing the ball through mid-wicket for a run.

Good length on off, slower too. Athapaththu dabs it down to the left of short extra cover.

Half an appeal for LBW, but that's pitching outside leg. Fired in, very full and at the toes. Athapaththu tries to hang back and slog it away but gets hit on the boot.

A dot to end the Powerplay, and Sri Lanka Women are 45/1. Tossed up around off, getting some turn and bounce away from the left-hander. Perera looks to sweep but is well beaten.

FOUR! Flighted ball, not all that full and on off. Hasini Perera lunges across and drags the sweep well fine, getting it down to the left of the deep backward square leg fielder for a boundary.

Dropped short on off, Athapaththu pulls it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Floated up on middle, Athapaththu leans on to defend.

Another valiant effort in the field, this time from Saira Jabeen. Fractionally fuller on the stumps, slogged away flat and over backward square leg. Jabeen comes in and puts her body behind the line of the ball, keeping it down to a single.

Good fielding! Full and down leg, swept away firmly to the left of short fine leg, where the fielder dives in and makes a fine stop.

On a fuller length, outside the leg stump. Chamari Athapaththu steers it wide of deep fine leg and they hustle through for the second run.

Big appeal for LBW, but not given. Clearly pitching outside leg. On a good length and Hasini misses to connect her flick shot and the ball thuds the front pad before rolling into the leg side. They get a leg bye.

OUT! BOWLED! Sana responds strongly and ends Dulani's charge. She lands it on a good length, and around the middle and leg stump line. The ball lands and nips back into the batter whilst staying a bit low as well. Imesha Dulani swings across the line to pull but misses and the ball sneaks below the bat to clip the top of the leg stump. Sana is ecstatic and Sri Lanka Women are 36/1, needing 142 runs from 92 balls.

Very short and outside off, Imesha stands there like a statue and offers no shot.

Into the blockhole, on off, Imesha manages to jam the bat down and the ball gets squeezed off the inside edge and rolls to the backward square leg region.

Around off and this is punched away to the off side.

Oh, this one beats everyone. Nagging length around off, Dulani looks to get forward and push at it but leaves it at the last moment. The ball turns in between bat and pad and goes over the stumps and past the keeper to short fine leg for a bye.

Riasat drags the length back, and Chamari Athapaththu stands tall, hoicking across the line. This is miscued to deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Tossed up on off and middle, Dulani brings out the sweep, hitting it to deep square leg for a run.

Flighted up, drifting into off stump. Imesha Dulani gets forward to defend.

FOUR! Flighted, fuller and around the stumps, delivered from around the wicket. Imesha strides out of the crease and tonks it straight back over the bowler's head, beating the long on fielder with ease. Top shot.

Full and Chamari fetches it from outside off, dragging it down to long on for a single. Oopsie! Another No Ball called as Riasat has overstepped. Time for a Free Hit.

WIDE! Far outside off, on a length, left alone.

Round-arm delivery on a fuller length. Imesha comes down the track and drills it to long on for a single.

Pushed through, drifting in on leg, full in length. Dulani tries to flick it away but closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge. The ball rolls harmlessly to the short third fielder. This is called a No Ball for overstepping. Free Hit up next...

Outstanding delivery! Looks like the keeper has missed out on a stumping chance there. Gives it a good rip, full and around off, spinning away. Athapaththu looks to push at it but is beaten by the sharp turn. The keeper can't collect it cleanly either, and that gives Athapaththu just enough time to drag her back leg in before any danger.

Touch short on off, Chamari mistimes the pull shot to mid-wicket.

Keeps tossing it full and on leg. Imesha drives it through mid on for an easy single.

Goes straight on from a length, outside off, Imesha employs the reverse sweep but fails to connect.

Spins in on middle, Dulani hangs back and taps it to the leg side.

FOUR! In command! Drops it full and on off, Imesha Dulani drags her hands in front by getting down on a knee. Uses her wrists to sweep it behind square on the leg side, and into the gap for a boundary.

Angled in on a length, Imesha nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a single. A very productive over for Sri Lanka as 11 runs come off it.

FOUR! Powered away! This is positive batting from Imesha. Very full and outside off, Imesha Dulani gets on the front foot and authoritatively threads the mid off and extra cover gap for a cracking boundary.

FOUR! Not timed really well, but she will take it. Full in front of the stumps, Imesha Dulani walks down the track and drags it off the inside half of the bat, but finds the gap at mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary.

Tails in a bit into the batter and Dulani heaves it across to mid-wcket.

WIDE! Pushed away from the batter, outside off, on a length. Dulani throws her bat at it to access the off side, but misses. It is called a wide as the ball goes past the tramline.

Full and straight, on the leg stump, Chamari Athapaththu uses her wrists to whip it to the deep backward square leg region for a single.

Slightly back of a length, outside off, Chamari Athapaththu drives it on the up but straight to the cover fielder.

FOUR! Top shot in the gap! Drops it full on leg, Imesha Dulani gets across, goes low on a knee and nails the sweep shot to deep backward square leg for a boundary. 8 runs from the first over and Sri Lanka Women need 170 runs from 114 balls.

Bowls it full and around the off stump. Imesha Dulani miscues her lofted shot but powers it over covers for a couple of runs.

On middle and leg, full in length, this is clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

Another full delivery, outside off, inviting the batter to take the risk. Chamari Athapaththu crunches it away once again and the fielder once again makes a fine diving stop at covers.

Full and outside off, Chamari cracks it to the off side, but the cover-point fielder dives to her left and makes the stop.

In the air... but just safe! Full in length, from around the stump, on the leg stump. Imesha Dulani crouches a bit and slogs it over mid on without any sort of timing. The long on fielder is a bit late to react and charges in off the ropes but the ball drops on the bounce as Aliya Riaz is unable to cover her ground. A single taken.