At a glance
- Sri Lanka Women seal four wicket win to draw ODI series 1-1
- Chamari Athapaththu delivers with bat and ball in match winning return
- Bangladesh Women struggle for partnerships despite Nigar Sultana fifty
Sri Lanka drew level in the one day international series with a composed four wicket win over Bangladesh in Rajshahi, powered by a commanding all round display from Chamari Athapaththu.
Returning after missing the opening match with a finger injury, Athapaththu made an immediate impact with the ball before guiding the chase with authority. Her figures of 3-36 helped restrict Bangladesh to a modest 165, a total that never quite felt secure on a steady surface.
Sri Lanka 166 for 6 (Samarawickrama 50, Athapaththu 40, Karunaratne 40, Nahida 4-21) beat Bangladesh 165 (Nigar 58, Athapaththu 3-36, Ranaweera 2-28, Meepage 2-29) by four wickets. View the full scorecard here.
Bangladesh Women Struggle to Build Momentum
Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships despite a patient innings from captain Nigar Sultana, who anchored the innings with 58 from 101 balls. Her effort included four boundaries but lacked sustained support from the other end. Early setbacks set the tone, including the dismissal of Sharmin Akhter for a duck, and the innings never fully recovered.
Sri Lanka Women Level Series With Composed Win
Athapaththu struck key blows through the middle overs. She trapped one batter lbw to break a growing stand, then followed up quickly with another dismissal in her next over. Her third wicket came courtesy of a sharp catch in the field, underlining Sri Lanka’s alertness and discipline.
Support came from across the bowling unit. Inoka Ranaweera returned figures of 2-28 while Nimesha Meepage added 2-29, ensuring Bangladesh never gained late momentum.
Sri Lanka Women Seal Chase With Calm Authority
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase had early stumbles but Athapaththu steadied the innings with a fluent 40 from just 39 balls, striking eight crisp fours. Her positive approach set the tone, highlighting the control and confidence with which Sri Lanka Women approached the target.
The turning point arrived with a composed fourth wicket partnership between Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hansima Karunaratne.
The pair added 79 runs in a measured stand that shifted control firmly towards the visitors. Samarawickrama reached a well crafted 50 from 76 balls, while Karunaratne contributed a steady 40 from 64 balls, both innings marked by controlled stroke play.
Bangladesh left arm spinner Nahida Akhter impressed with 4-21, briefly raising hopes of a late twist.
Late Push Falls Short as Sri Lanka Women Hold Nerve
However, Sri Lanka held their nerve to cross the line with four wickets in hand, ensuring the series is finely poised heading into the decider.
The series now stands level at 1-1, setting up a decisive final match in Rajshahi on April 25, where both sides will look to seize momentum and claim the series.
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