Pakistan Women U19 secured their first victory of the Women’s U19 T20 Tri-Series 2026/27 with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka Women U19 at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on October 3. The hosts successfully chased a target of 125 in 19 overs, with six balls remaining, after an impressive all-round performance with both bat and ball.
The victory was an important response for Pakistan after they opened their campaign with a 30-run defeat against Bangladesh. Komal Khan starred with the bat, producing a composed half-century, while Mahnoor Zeb led the bowling attack with three wickets. The result gave Pakistan valuable momentum in the tri-series, which also features Bangladesh and is being played entirely at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
Sri Lanka Women U19 Post 124 for Nine
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka Women U19 elected to bat first but struggled to build sustained momentum against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack. They eventually finished their 20 overs on 124 for nine, setting Pakistan a target of 125.
Nethmi Upeksha was Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer, making 39 from 43 deliveries with four boundaries. Vimoksha Balasooriya also contributed 27 from 30 balls, helping Sri Lanka recover after the early loss of Sanjana Kavindi.
Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Left-arm pacer Mahnoor Zeb was the standout performer, finishing with three wickets for 18 runs from her four overs. Memoona Khalid also played an important role, claiming two wickets for 18 runs, while Shahar Bano picked up one wicket.
Sri Lanka were unable to produce a major late-innings surge despite Pramudi Methsara’s 20 and some late hitting. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling ensured that the target remained manageable for their batters.
Komal Khan Leads Pakistan’s Successful Chase
Pakistan Women U19 began the chase positively despite losing Ravail Farhan early. Komal Khan then took control of the innings, combining attacking strokes with sensible shot selection.
Komal formed an important 74-run second-wicket partnership with Zoofishan Ayyaz. The partnership gave Pakistan stability and put the hosts firmly ahead of the required run rate.
Komal was particularly impressive, reaching her half-century from 39 balls and striking seven boundaries during her innings. Her 50 became the foundation of Pakistan’s successful chase and earned her the Player of the Match award.
Zoofishan provided excellent support at the other end, scoring 38 from 41 deliveries with three boundaries. Her contribution ensured that Pakistan maintained control even after Komal was dismissed with the score on 79.
Pakistan Maintain Their Composure
Sri Lanka continued to fight back by taking wickets at regular intervals. Pakistan captain Fizza Fiaz added 13 from 14 balls before her dismissal, while Zoofishan also departed in the 19th over with Pakistan still requiring 12 runs.
However, the hosts remained composed under pressure. Shahar Bano produced the decisive finish, smashing an unbeaten 11 from just four deliveries, including a six. Her late contribution allowed Pakistan to reach 125 for five in 19 overs and seal a five-wicket victory with one over remaining.
For Pakistan Women U19, the result was more than simply a win. The performance demonstrated the team’s ability to recover from an early tournament setback and showed promising contributions from both the batting and bowling departments.
Momentum Builds in Faisalabad Tri-Series
The Women’s U19 T20 Tri-Series features Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in a triple round-robin format, with the top two teams scheduled to qualify for the final. The tournament is being staged at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, providing the young players with valuable international cricket experience ahead of major upcoming age-group competitions.
Pakistan Women U19 will now look to build on their victory as the tournament progresses. Their next scheduled fixture is against Bangladesh on October 6, followed by another meeting with Sri Lanka on October 9. The hosts will have several opportunities to strengthen their position in the standings before the final on October 16.
The performances of players such as Komal Khan and Mahnoor Zeb will be particularly encouraging for Pakistan. Komal’s fifty provided the stability needed during the chase, while Mahnoor’s three-wicket spell played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total.
For cricket followers, the tournament offers an opportunity to watch the next generation of women cricketers develop on the international stage. Howzzat will continue to bring readers the latest Pakistan cricket news, match reports and updates from the Women’s U19 tri-series.
