Sports
Zafar, Feroza lead Pakistan to consolation win
Pakistan won the basement battle against Netherlands in a low-scoring game, with Gull Feroza’s half-century inspiring them to a 37-run win. In a low-scoring contest where momentum ebbed and flowed, Feroza held the first innings together to put on 126 for Pakistan, their joint-highest score this tournament.
Netherlands appeared on course initially with a bright start from Heather Siegers, but lost their way dramatically after she was dismissed as Pakistan squeezed them through spin. The last seven wickets fell for just 13 runs, with Fatima Sana returning to the attack to apply the coup de grace, knocking back the stumps three times in the final over to send Netherlands’ last three batters on their way as they folded for 89.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat, recovering from an uninspiring start thanks to a 79-run second-wicket stand between Feroza and Ayesha Zafar. But the Netherlands hit back through Silver Siegers and Iris Zwilling, the latter arguably the pick of the Netherlands attack. They triggered a Pakistani collapse which saw them lose 5 wickets for 24 runs, including the early loss of Sana, who had promoted herself up to four, her highest T20I batting position. It pegged Pakistan back from what had looked like a score in excess of 140 to one Netherlands genuinely fancied chasing.
Heather Siegers breezy start meant it was the Netherlands who looked as if they might pip Pakistan, but there wasn’t much to back her up after Diana Baig sent her on her way. Pakistan’s spinners asphyxiated the Dutch, and as the asking rate ballooned, the Netherlands began to shrink away. It was, in the end, a tame capitulation from a Dutch side that promised so much more for the best part of this game.
Feroza stands tall
Trying to remain oblivious to the bedlam all around is among Pakistan cricket’s more challenging tasks, but Gull Feroza managed exactly that. With Pakistan managing only a sedate start and suffering the early loss of Muneeba Ali, Feroza put on a 79-run partnership with Ayesha Zafar. She was the more aggressive partner through that second-wicket stand, particularly after the halfway mark.
The attack was launched with a couple of nifty boundaries off Hannah Landheer in the tenth over, and another pair against Heather Siegers in the one that followed. Between the tenth and 14th overs, Pakistan enjoyed their best spell with the bat, smashing 36 in four. Though a collapse would soon follow, they had, thanks to Feroza, built up just about enough of a buffer to give their bowlers breathing space.
The review that almost wasn’t
Netherlands made an inspired start against South Africa on Thursday, and were aware anything close to that would virtually guarantee victory in pursuit of 127 today. Heather Siegers began threatening just that racing along to 24 in 15 with the side racking up 31 in the first 20 balls. But Diana Baig came back from being smashed for two boundaries off her first two balls strongly, in perhaps the most consequential moment of the match.
Siegers missed an attempted steer into the onside, and it hit her high on the pad. The umpire was quick to turn down Pakistan’s half-hearted appeal, but Sana reviewed at the last moment, and Hawk-Eye spat out three reds. Netherlands brightest spark was gone, and they never recovered that position of strength in the game again.
Pakistan’s spinners overrun Netherlands
Once Siegers departed, a thin layer of pressure appeared to descend on the Dutch, one they could never quite shrug off. The following over saw a hare-brained attempt at a single end up in a run-out thanks to a direct hit from Eyman Fatima. A Sana over aside, Pakistan turned almost exclusively to spin, rushing through their overs and watching the asking rate pile up. Nashra Sandhu was most effective at stifling the batters, maintaining a tight line that gave nothing away. She would end up registering figures of 3-0-8-1 through the middle, with the Netherlands managing just 23 in seven overs since Siegers’ dismissal.
Scores:
Pakistan Women 126 for 6 in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 12, Gull Feroza 63*, Ayesha Zafar 32; Iris Zwilling 2-19, Heather Siegers 1-28, Hannah Landheer 1-19, Caroline de Lange 1-24, Silve Seigers 1-17) beat Netherlands Women 89 all out in 18 overs (Babette de Leede 30, Steere Kalis 12; Fatima Sana 3-12, Diana Baig 1-11, Nashra Sandhu 1-08, Ayesha Zafar 3-13) by 37 runs
[Cricinfo]
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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