Chamari Athapaththu's all-round display (101 & 2-20) has helped Sri Lanka women cap off what's been a disastrous tour for the Islanders with a consolation 93-run win over Pakistan women at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday evening.
Having comprehensively lost each of their first five fixtures on the tour (3 T20Is + 2 ODIs), it looked like Pakistan would seal yet another series whitewash after Anam Amin reduced Sri Lanka to 4/2 after two overs.
However, a sensational, belligerent 6th ODI hundred by the legendary Athapaththu came to Lanka's rescue.
Athapaththu was at her imperious best on Sunday afternoon as she smacked a brutal 85-ball 101, an innings punctuated with 13 fours and a six.
She got ideal support from Harshitha Madavi- 75 off 128 deliveries- and together, they took Lanka from a desperate situation of 4/2 to 156/2 in the next 29 overs.
The 152-run-stand was finally broken by Nida Dar after she got Athapaththu stumped. However, Harshitha continued to go from strength to strength and aided by handy contributions from Kavisha Dilhari (28 off 44) and Nilakshi De Silva, who racked up a rapid 18-ball 24*, helped Lanka post 260/7 in 50.
For Pakistan, Anam Amin (2/43 in 10) and Nida Dar (1/39 in 9) were the pick of the bowlers while Fatima Sana (2/51 in 8) also chipped in with a couple.
Athapththu was at it again with the ball as she not only ran out opener Muneeba Ali (16 off 23) but also knocked over the in-form Sidra Ameen for a 19-ball 24 and Nida Dar for an 8-ball 5 to leave Pakistan reeling at 4-48, with Oshadi Ranasinghe backing up with the dismissal of skipper Bismah Mahroof for a six-ball duck.
Omaima Sohail (40 off 61) and Aliya Riaz (56 off 82) tried to resurrect the ship with a 64-run-stand but it proved to be less than inadequate as the home side eventually folded for 167 in 41.4 overs.
Athapaththu was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for her all-round performance, while Sidra was named 'Player of the series'.
Brief Score:
Sri Lanka Women - 260/7 (50 overs)
Chamari Athapaththu 101(85), Harshitha Madavi 75(128);
Anam Amin (2/43 in 10 overs)
Pakistan Women - 167/10 (41.4)
Aliya Riaz 56(82), Omaima Sohail 40(61);
Chamari Athapaththu (2/20 in 6 overs)
Sri Lanka Women won by 93 runs.