Sri Lanka clinch an absolute thriller against Bangladesh

Sri Lanka earned their first win of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with an extraordinary seven-run victory over Bangladesh.

The Tigresses needed nine from the final over but lost four wickets in four balls to see their run chase collapse at the death.

Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akhter had provided a strong platform for Bangladesh with the bat but they were unable to get their side over the line, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Hasini Perera did the most damage with the bat for Sri Lanka, bringing up her first international half-century en route to top-scoring with 85.

Sri Lanka’s batters wobbled at the end but were able to grind their way to 200 runs that ultimately proved crucial in earning victory, keeping their hopes of qualification alive.

Perera powers Sri Lanka with first international half-century

Bangladesh made the perfect start as Marufa Akter dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne with the very first ball of the innings, with the opener trapped leg before after review.

That early setback did not halt Sri Lanka as Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera steadily rebuilt the innings.

The pair comfortably passed 50 and looked set for many more, especially when Athapaththu was dropped on 46 by Rabeya Khan.

However, the Sri Lanka captain fell the very next ball as Rabeya’s arm ball had her leg before.

Sri Lanka once again set about rebuilding, with Perera looking comfortable at the crease before Harshitha Samarawickrama fell cheaply for just four after a run out.

Kavisha Dilhari then followed for four soon after following an unfortunate stumping, as the ball bounced off Nigar Sultana Joty’s legs and onto the stumps to leave Sri Lanka 100 for four.

Perera remained the mainstay and brought up her maiden international half-century in style, smashing Rabeya for six to inject some momentum back into her side’s batting.

There was also some fortune for Perera, who was twice dropped on 55 and 63 as Bangladesh struggled to dislodge her.

Instead, the Tigresses worked around her and soon halted the dangerous Nilakshika Silva in her tracks.

Silva had built a strong partnership with Perera, striking at a run a ball, but departed for 37 after Shorna Akter had her caught at short third.

That was the start of a mid-innings collapse for Sri Lanka, who lost Anushka Sanjeewani (2) and Sugandika Kumari (1) in quick succession to slip to 181 for seven before Shorna removed Perera leg before for 85.

The run-rate slowed down heavily following Perera’s dismissal but Udeshika Prabodhani (8) and Malki Madara (9) nudged their side to 200 before falling in consecutive overs, with Sri Lanka eventually all out for 202.

Nigar and Sharmin partnership not enough for Bangladesh

Bangladesh made a stuttering start in response, with Udeshika Prabodhani removing Rubya Haider for a duck in the second over.

The first five overs yielded just eight runs as the Sri Lankan bowlers got on top, Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque looked to be building a platform until Fargana was run out for seven following a direct hit from Harshitha Samarawickrama.

Sobhana Mostary quickly followed for eight soon after, as she picked out Vishmi Gunaratne on the boundary to leave Bangladesh 44 for three.

The Tigresses rebuilt excellently through Sharmin and captain Nigar Sultana Joty, with the pair digging in to put together a strong fourth-wicket stand.

Sharmin duly brought up her half-century off 81 balls before Bangladesh reached 100 with 20 overs remaining.

Sharmin in particular looked well set before she was forced to retire hurt on 64, with Bangladesh 77 runs from home.

New batter Shorna Akter was dropped on four and duly made Sri Lanka pay as she built a strong partnership with Nigar, who reached her half-century in 72 balls.

The pair moved to within 30 runs of victory with five overs remaining until Chamari Athapaththu made a crucial breakthrough as Shorna nicked behind to fall for 19.

It left captain Nigar and Ritu Moni to finish the nervy run chase as they crept steadily towards their total.

Ritu was bowled by Sugandika Kumari for seven to leave Bangladesh requiring nine from the final over for victory.

It proved to be a stunning over with the ball from captain Athapaththu, as Bangladesh lost four wickets in the first four balls.

Rabeya Khan was dismissed leg before, and Nahida Akter was run out with the second before Nigar was then caught in the deep off the third ball as she finally departed for 77.

Marufa Akter then went leg before, and Sri Lanka nervously saw out a seven-run victory following a stunning final over.

Scores

Sri Lanka 202 all out in 48.4 overs (Hasini Perera 85, Chamari Athapaththu 46; Shorna Akter 3/27, Rabeya Khan 2/39)

Bangladesh 195/9 in 50 overs (Nigar Sultana Joty 77, Sharmin Akhter 64; Chamari Athapaththu 4/42, Sugandika Kumari 2/38)

Result: Sri Lanka won by seven runs

Hasini Perera - Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images