Gunaratne 123 and Samarawickrama 100* Power Sri Lanka to 274 Chase and Level Series 1-1
Sri Lanka pulled off a memorable chase of 274 to level the series 1-1, with Gunaratne scoring 123 and Samarawickrama remaining unbeaten on 100.
How the Sri Lanka innings unfolded
The target of 274 looked steep at the start, yet the openers and middle order steadily built partnerships that kept Sri Lanka in the hunt throughout the innings.
Gunaratne played a pivotal role with a knock of 123, anchoring the innings and rotating the strike effectively while finding the boundary at regular intervals when required.
Samarawickrama seals the victory
Samarawickrama finished the job with an unbeaten century, reaching 100 not out and guiding the side home in a composed manner that ensured no late wobbles occurred.
The combination of the two standout performances allowed Sri Lanka to cross the finish line with the required runs in hand, turning a potentially difficult situation into a series-levelling win.
Pakistan produced a competitive total that appeared defendable for large parts of the match.
Pakistan’s effort with the bat
Despite the eventual defeat, Pakistan’s total stood up well until the Sri Lankan batters accelerated in the middle and later stages of the chase.
Sidra Amin remained unbeaten on a century, providing the backbone of Pakistan’s innings and ensuring the total stayed competitive right until the end.
- Gunaratne scored 123
- Samarawickrama remained not out on 100
- Target successfully chased: 274
- Series result after the match: 1-1
The unbeaten century from Sidra Amin highlighted Pakistan’s ability to post challenging scores, even though the Sri Lankan pair ultimately proved too strong on the day.
This result brings the series level at one win apiece, setting up an interesting decider for both sides.