Sri Lanka held their nerve in a nail-biting ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash to knock Bangladesh out of the tournament in Navi Mumbai on Monday.
Defending 203, Bangladesh needed eight runs to win in the final over but Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu rose to the occasion in stunning fashion to restrict the opposition to 195/9. Bangladesh lost four wickets in the first four deliveries of the over with Athapaththu claiming three of them to seal a dramatic win.
Nigar Sultana Joty (77) top-scored for Bangladesh with valuable support from Sharmin Akter (64*), but their efforts weren’t enough as the team faltered under pressure at the death.
Athapaththu (4/42) emerged as Sri Lanka’s standout performer with the ball with her heroics in the final over sealing the win. Sugandika Kumari (2/29) and Udeshika Prabodhani (1/29) also provided crucial support.
The result keeps Sri Lanka’s semi-final hopes alive while Bangladesh’s campaign comes to an end following their fifth defeat of the tournament.
In the first innings, Bangladesh’s bowlers delivered a collective effort to bowl out Sri Lanka for 202. Sri Lanka had cruised to 174/4 after a solid start from the top order but regular wickets in the death overs meant they just managed to cross the 200-run mark.
Hasini Perera (85) top-scored for the hosts while Chamari Athapaththu (46) and Nilakshika Silva (37) also contributed crucial runs. Perera would stitch a determined knock and was eventually adjudged as the Aramco Player of the Match.
Perera, alongside Silva, had revived the innings with a crucial 74-run partnership, capitalising on a few dropped chances after Sri Lanka were struggling at 100/4 before the 20th over.
However, momentum swung firmly back in Bangladesh’s favour as their spinners tightened the screws on Sri Lanka. Silva’s dismissal in the 32nd over triggered a collapse and Perera’s dismissal – who struck 13 fours and a six in her innings – soon after deepened the slump.
Shorna Akter ripped through the middle order with three key strikes as Sri Lanka managed only 27 runs while losing four wickets between overs 31 and 40. From there, it was only a matter of time before Bangladesh cleaned up the tail. Though Udeshika Prabodhani and Malki Madara held on until the penultimate over, an economical display from the Bangladesh bowlers meant they restricted Sri Lanka for 202.
In pursuit of 203, Bangladesh looked well on course to win at one stage. After a poor start that saw Rubya Haider fall for a duck and when they were left reeling at 44/3, the chase was revived by a superb 82-run partnership between Sharmin Akhter and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty.
Sharmin and Joty kept the scoreboard ticking to put Bangladesh in control. At 176/4, they needed only 27 runs from the final five overs and appeared to be cruising. But Sri Lanka pulled their way back in the final two overs.
Athapaththu led from the front, conceding just a single run while claiming the crucial wicket of Joty among her three scalps in her final over. Bangladesh were left heartbroken, falling agonisingly short of what once seemed a certain victory.
Sri Lanka will next be in action on October 24 when they take on Pakistan while Bangladesh take on India on October 26 in their final group game.
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