While Harshitha Samarawickrama finished as Player of the Series, Vishmi Gunaratne’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s turnaround was equally important in the match that kept the hosts alive. Her century in the second ODI came with Sri Lanka facing a target of 274 and the possibility of losing the series with one game remaining.

Vishmi combined with Harshitha to take control of the chase against a Pakistan side that had already won the opening ODI. Instead of allowing the required target to create pressure, the pair built the partnership that became the foundation of Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory.

A Century When Sri Lanka Needed It Most

The context made Vishmi’s innings especially valuable. Pakistan had posted 273 for five after Sidra Amin’s unbeaten century, and Sri Lanka needed to complete their highest-pressure chase of the series to force a deciding third ODI.

Vishmi responded by reaching three figures and helping Sri Lanka stay ahead of the required scoring rate. Her innings reduced Pakistan’s opportunities to build pressure through dot balls or quick wickets and allowed the hosts to approach the latter stages of the chase from a position of control.

A Record Partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama

The partnership between Vishmi and Harshitha became one of the defining statistical achievements of the series. Together, they produced Sri Lanka Women’s first 200-plus partnership in ODI cricket.

More importantly, the partnership came under genuine match and series pressure. Pakistan needed breakthroughs to defend 273 and complete the series victory, but Sri Lanka’s two century-makers denied them the opportunity to take control of the chase.

Vishmi Helped Shift the Pressure Back to Pakistan

Sri Lanka entered the second ODI under pressure because another defeat would have ended the series. By the end of Vishmi and Harshitha’s partnership, that pressure had shifted completely.

The hosts had successfully chased a challenging total with only two wickets lost and 19 balls remaining. Pakistan went from being one victory away from a series win to entering the final ODI with the contest level.

Vishmi therefore played a major role in the moment when the series changed direction. Sri Lanka still needed to win the decider, but without her century and the record partnership in the second ODI, there would have been no opportunity to complete the historic comeback.

Sri Lanka’s 2–1 series victory was also an important result for captain Chamari Athapaththu. The hosts were under immediate pressure after losing the opening ODI, and there was no room for another defeat in a three-match series.

Sri Lanka’s response showed their ability to recover rather than allow the first result to define the contest. They improved significantly with the bat in the second ODI before producing a more complete bowling and batting performance in the series decider.

Keeping Sri Lanka Alive After the Opening Defeat

Pakistan’s five-wicket victory in the first ODI left Sri Lanka facing a straightforward equation: win the second match or lose the series. That made the hosts’ response particularly significant.

Pakistan then raised the challenge by posting 273 for five in the second ODI. Sri Lanka nevertheless completed the chase for the loss of only two wickets, with Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama producing centuries in a record partnership.

Sri Lanka Found Different Ways to Win

One of the strongest features of Sri Lanka’s comeback was that their two victories were not identical. The second ODI was primarily defined by an exceptional batting response, while the deciding match began with the bowlers taking control.

Sri Lanka dismissed Pakistan for 187 in 40 overs in the third ODI. That gave the batting unit a target of 188, which the hosts chased successfully in 37.2 overs with only two wickets lost.

Athapaththu also helped Sri Lanka begin the chase positively, combining with Vishmi Gunaratne in a 46-run opening partnership before Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera took control of the pursuit.

A Team Victory Rather Than a One-Player Story

Harshitha was Sri Lanka’s standout batter and earned the Player of the Series award, but the overall comeback required contributions from several players. Vishmi’s century was critical in the second ODI, Hasini Perera made an important fifty in the decider, and the bowling unit created the platform by dismissing Pakistan for 187.

That spread of contributions is important when assessing Athapaththu’s leadership during the series. Sri Lanka were able to recover from an early setback because different parts of the team delivered at different stages rather than relying exclusively on one performance.

A Significant Series Result Under Athapaththu

Completing a 2–1 comeback after losing the opener gave Sri Lanka more than a routine bilateral series victory. The result ended their long wait for an ODI series success against Pakistan and added valuable context to the team’s progress under Athapaththu’s captaincy.

The fact that Sri Lanka won both must-win matches by eight wickets made the turnaround particularly convincing. Once they responded in the second ODI, the hosts maintained that momentum and controlled the decisive stages of the final match.

Pakistan were in a strong position after winning the opening ODI by five wickets. They strengthened that position further in the second match by posting 273 for five, with Sidra Amin scoring an unbeaten century. At that stage, Pakistan were one successful defence away from securing the series.

The series changed because Pakistan could not translate that scoreboard pressure into regular wickets. Sri Lanka lost only two batters while chasing 274, and the visitors were unable to break the partnership between Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama before it had effectively taken control of the match.

Pakistan Could Not Defend 273 in the Second ODI

The second ODI was Pakistan’s biggest missed opportunity. Sidra Amin’s unbeaten 100 helped the visitors reach 273 for five, giving the bowling attack a substantial total to defend in a match that could have decided the series.

Sri Lanka, however, controlled the chase through Gunaratne and Samarawickrama. Both reached centuries as the hosts completed their target at 275 for two in 46.5 overs.

Pakistan managed only two wickets across the entire innings. Without regular breakthroughs, they were unable to expose Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order or create the pressure normally associated with a chase of that size.

The Batting Fell Away in the Series Decider

Pakistan’s challenge in the third ODI was very different. After producing 273 for five in the previous match, they were dismissed for 187 in only 40 overs in the series decider.

Being bowled out with ten overs unused limited Pakistan’s opportunity to build a larger total. In a match where the winner would take the series, Sri Lanka therefore needed only 188 to complete their comeback.

The reduced target also allowed the hosts to approach the chase with greater control. Pakistan needed early and repeated wickets to compensate for the smaller total, but Sri Lanka again lost only two batters.

Too Few Wickets in Sri Lanka’s Successful Chases

A clear pattern emerged across Pakistan’s two defeats: Sri Lanka lost only two wickets in each chase. The hosts reached 275 for two in the second ODI and 191 for two in the third.

That meant Pakistan took just four wickets across the two innings that decided the series. Sri Lanka’s established batters were able to build long partnerships, reducing the chances of exposing new batters to scoreboard pressure.

Sidra Amin’s Century Was Not Enough

Pakistan still produced important individual performances during the series. Sidra Amin’s unbeaten century in the second ODI was one of their strongest contributions and helped set up a genuine opportunity to take an unbeatable 2–0 lead.

The problem was that Sri Lanka produced an even stronger response. Gunaratne and Samarawickrama both reached three figures, turning Pakistan’s 273 for five from a potentially series-winning total into the starting point of Sri Lanka’s comeback.

Sri Lanka’s comeback in Hambantota was more than another home series victory. By winning the final two ODIs after falling 1–0 behind, the hosts ended a 24-year wait for a bilateral ODI series success against Pakistan Women.

Sri Lanka’s previous bilateral ODI series victory over Pakistan had come in 2002. Pakistan subsequently enjoyed the stronger run in ODI series between the two teams, making the 2026 result an important milestone for Chamari Athapaththu’s side.

A 24-Year Wait Comes to an End

The length of the gap gives the result its historical importance. Sri Lanka had waited more than two decades to register another bilateral ODI series victory against Pakistan, and they achieved it despite losing the first match of the contest.

That comeback element makes the achievement even more notable. Sri Lanka were not able to build the series from an early advantage. Instead, they had to win two consecutive must-win matches after Pakistan took a 1–0 lead.

Back-to-Back Eight-Wicket Wins Made the Comeback Convincing

The manner of Sri Lanka’s recovery was just as important as the final scoreline. Both of their victories came by eight wickets, although the two matches required very different performances.

In the second ODI, Sri Lanka successfully chased 274 after Pakistan had appeared well placed to secure the series. In the third, the hosts first dismissed Pakistan for 187 and then completed the target with 76 balls remaining.

Those results meant Sri Lanka went from being one defeat away from losing the series to controlling the final two matches and finishing 2–1 winners.

Record-Breaking Batting Added to the Achievement

The series also produced an important Sri Lankan ODI batting milestone. Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama combined for Sri Lanka Women’s first 200-plus partnership in the format during the second ODI.

Both batters scored centuries as Sri Lanka successfully chased Pakistan’s 273 for five. That partnership kept the series alive and became the performance that opened the door for the historic result in the decider.

Harshitha’s Performances Defined the Comeback

Harshitha Samarawickrama was central to both victories. Her unbeaten 100 in the second ODI was followed by an unbeaten 71 in the third, meaning she was at the crease when Sri Lanka completed both of their successful chases.

She finished with 173 runs and earned the Player of the Series award. Her performances therefore became closely connected with a series result that will hold a notable place in Sri Lanka Women’s ODI history.

The ODI series against Pakistan was not simply a standalone bilateral contest. All three matches in Hambantota counted toward the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29, giving both teams an opportunity to collect important championship points.

Pakistan entered the tour in a strong championship position and strengthened their start to the series by winning the opening ODI. Sri Lanka’s response in the next two matches therefore mattered on two levels: it secured a historic bilateral series victory and allowed the hosts to take the majority of the available results from the three-match contest.

Why Every ODI Result Mattered

The ICC Women’s Championship gives bilateral ODI series a wider qualification context. Results accumulated across the championship cycle contribute to each team’s campaign, meaning individual matches can remain significant even after the bilateral series outcome has been decided.

That made Sri Lanka’s comeback particularly valuable. After losing the first ODI, the hosts faced the possibility of dropping another championship result as well as conceding the series. Winning the second match prevented that scenario and created an opportunity to finish the ODI leg with consecutive victories.

Sri Lanka Recovered After Losing the Opener

Pakistan initially gained the advantage by winning the first ODI by five wickets. Sri Lanka then faced a must-win second match and responded by successfully chasing 274 for an eight-wicket victory.

The hosts followed that result by dismissing Pakistan for 187 in the third ODI and chasing the target with eight wickets remaining. Sri Lanka therefore finished the championship series with two wins from three matches despite beginning with a defeat.

A Result with Value Beyond the Trophy

The historical significance of ending a 24-year wait for a bilateral ODI series victory over Pakistan understandably became the headline story, but the championship context gives the result additional sporting value.

Sri Lanka showed that they could recover within an important ODI series after falling behind, while Pakistan were unable to convert their opening victory into control of the remaining matches. Those results now form part of the teams’ broader ICC Women’s Championship campaigns.

The final 2–1 scoreline tells only part of the story. Pakistan Women controlled the opening match and then posted 273 for five in the second ODI, but Sri Lanka responded with two dominant chases to completely reverse the direction of the series.

Harshitha Samarawickrama was the standout performer across Sri Lanka’s comeback, while Vishmi Gunaratne played a crucial role in the record-breaking second ODI chase. The numbers from the three matches highlight just how strongly the hosts finished the series.

Complete ODI Series Results

Harshitha Samarawickrama’s Series Numbers

Harshitha finished the three-match series with 173 runs and was named Player of the Series. More importantly, her two biggest contributions came in the matches Sri Lanka had to win.

She remained unbeaten on 100 in the second ODI as Sri Lanka successfully chased 274, before scoring an unbeaten 71 from 92 balls in the series decider. Sri Lanka therefore completed both of their victories with Harshitha still at the crease.

The Numbers Behind Sri Lanka’s Comeback

Sri Lanka’s batting control in the final two matches was particularly striking. Pakistan took only two wickets in each of those chases, meaning the visitors collected just four wickets across the two innings that decided the series.

Sri Lanka also completed both successful pursuits before the final overs. They chased 274 with 19 balls remaining in the second ODI and reached the target in the decider with 76 balls still available.

Series at a Glance

The ODI series may be over, but the tour continues. Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women move from the 50-over format into a three-match T20I series, giving both sides another opportunity to test their combinations and finish the tour strongly.

For Sri Lanka, the T20Is provide an opportunity to carry forward the confidence created by their ODI comeback. Pakistan, meanwhile, have the chance to respond quickly after seeing a 1–0 ODI series advantage turn into a 2–1 defeat.

Sri Lanka Look to Carry Their ODI Momentum Forward

Sri Lanka enter the shorter-format leg with significant confidence from the way they finished the ODI series. After losing the opener, they responded with consecutive eight-wicket victories and produced important contributions across both batting and bowling.

Harshitha Samarawickrama’s form will be one of the positive takeaways from the ODI leg. Her unbeaten 100 in the second match and 71 not out in the decider were central to the comeback, while Vishmi Gunaratne also made a major contribution during the record chase that leveled the series.

Pakistan Have an Immediate Opportunity to Respond

Pakistan will be disappointed not to have converted their opening ODI victory into a series win. They were particularly well placed after posting 273 for five in the second match, but Sri Lanka’s record chase changed the direction of the contest.

The T20I series gives Pakistan a fresh start. The shorter format changes the tactical requirements considerably, and the visitors can move away from the disappointment of the ODI decider by focusing on a new three-match contest.

Sri Lanka Women vs Pakistan Women T20I Schedule

Different Format, Different Tactical Challenge

The move from ODIs to T20Is means neither team can simply rely on the same approach that worked during the 50-over series. Powerplay scoring, boundary hitting, bowling matchups and death-over execution become even more important in the shorter format.

Sri Lanka will nevertheless take confidence from their ability to perform under pressure. Winning two consecutive must-win ODIs showed resilience, while Pakistan can point to their victory in the opening match and Sidra Amin’s century in the second as evidence of the quality within their side.

Sri Lanka Women’s series victory will be remembered for both the result and the way it was achieved. Pakistan won the opening ODI and then posted 273 for five in the second match, putting themselves in a strong position to secure the series. Sri Lanka responded with their best cricket when there was no margin left for another defeat.

The record partnership between Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama changed the direction of the contest. Their centuries powered Sri Lanka to 275 for two in the second ODI, leveling the series and setting up a winner-takes-all final match.

Harshitha Samarawickrama Defined the Comeback

Harshitha was the standout individual performer in Sri Lanka’s recovery. Her unbeaten 100 helped complete the demanding chase in the second ODI, and she followed it with an unbeaten 71 in the deciding match.

Finishing with 173 runs and the Player of the Series award reflected her importance, but the timing of those runs was even more significant. Harshitha remained at the crease when Sri Lanka completed both of the victories that turned the series around.

A Complete Performance in the Decider

Sri Lanka did not need another record chase to win the third ODI. Their bowlers dismissed Pakistan for 187 in 40 overs before the batting unit reached 191 for two in 37.2 overs.

Hasini Perera’s 50 complemented Harshitha’s unbeaten 71, allowing the hosts to complete the target with 76 balls remaining. The eight-wicket victory confirmed that Sri Lanka had maintained the momentum created by their second-ODI comeback.

More Than a Bilateral Series Victory

The result also carried wider importance because the three ODIs formed part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29. Sri Lanka therefore combined a historic bilateral achievement with two valuable results in the wider championship cycle.

For Pakistan, the series will be remembered as a missed opportunity after taking the early lead. Their opening victory and Sidra Amin’s unbeaten century in the second ODI demonstrated their quality, but Sri Lanka’s partnerships and improved bowling ultimately decided the contest.