Limansa Thilakarathna picked 3 for 14 in the eighth match of the Women's U19 Tri-nation T20 Series 2026/27 as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by six wickets.
Limansa Thilakarathna delivers knockout blow to Pakistan
The daughter of Sri Lankan legend Tillakaratne Dilshan, Limansa produced an all-round performance in the ongoing Women's U19 Tri-nation T20 Series, knocking out Pakistan and setting up a final with Bangladesh.
Limansa was brought into the attack late but made an immediate impact, dismissing Aqsa Habib on a return catch before cleaning up Alzoha Hammad and Afsheen Imran. Her 3 for 14 in two overs helped Sri Lanka restrict the hosts to 105, which they chased down with 6.3 overs to spare. Limansa was named the Player of the Match for her efforts.
Sanjana Kavindi de Silva was the top-scorer in the run-chase with 46 off 28 balls, while Limansa remained unbeaten on 16 off 22 to take the side over the finishing line. With this victory, Sri Lanka secured the top spot on the table, whereas Pakistan were knocked out, having earned only two points from six games.
Earlier in the tournament, the leg-spin all-rounder bowled a brilliant spell of 2 for 24 against the same opponents, albeit ending a losing cause. She held her nerves in the following game against Bangladesh, scoring the winning runs when two were required off the final ball.
Limansa was part of the 2025 U19 T20 World Cup, where she claimed second-most wickets for Sri Lanka with seven in four innings at an economy of 3.07. She had an impressive run in the U19 tri-series in Australia in April this year, also involving England, snaring 11 wickets in four youth T20Is.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play the last group match on Wednesday, October 14, before they face off in the final at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Friday, October 16.
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