Captain Chamari Athapaththu's all-round performance (101 in 85 balls, 6-1-20-2) helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 93 runs in the third ODI, in Karachi. Having swept the T20Is 3-0, Pakistan had taken a 2-0 lead in the ODIs ahead of the match, but the Sri Lankans at least had something to rejoice after a dismal tour.
Sri Lanka were 6/2 in two overs when Harshita Madavi joined Athapaththu. The pair added 152 in 173 balls, with Athapaththu doing the bulk of the scoring. She took 50 balls to reach her half-century before taking off, getting to her hundred in only 82 balls, paying little heed to Bismah Maroof's bowling changes. Kavisha Dilhari (28) stepped up after Nida Dar had Athapaththu stumped off her bowling in the 31st over. And after Madavi fell, Nilakshi de Silva hit out to finish on an unbeaten 18-ball 24. Sri Lanka put up 260/7.
Sidra Ameen and Muneeba Ali started off well in response, adding 41 in 44 balls for the opening stand. But yet again Athapaththu stepped up, trapping Ameen leg before and running out Ali. And after Oshadi Ranasinghe took out Maroof, Athapaththu had Dar leg-before to reduce Pakistan to 48/4. Omaima Sohail (40) and Aliya Riaz (56) added 64, but Pakistan caved in after Sugandika Kumari ended the partnership. They were bowled out for 167 in the 42nd over.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka 260/7 in 50 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 101; Anam Amin 2-43) beat Pakistan 167 in 41.4 overs (Aliya Riaz 56; Chamari Athapaththu 2-20) by 93 runs. Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu.
Pakistan won the series 2-1. Player of the Series: Sidra Ameen.