Captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front from the word go. Chamari Athapaththu attacking 46 set things up in the powerplay and when it was needed to shine with the ball, she did so as well. Chamari Athapaththu was determined to do well for her team. Batting first, Chamari made 46, while Hasini Perera made 85 with Shorna Akter of Bangladesh taking 3 wickets to keep the score down to 202.
In the chase, Nigar Sultana scored 77 and Sharmin Akhter battled cramps to score 63* but they were outdone by Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu’s final over as she picked up 3 wickets in the final over and 4 for the match to give Sri Lanka a come from behind 7-run win when the match was dead and burried at one stage. So, Sri Lanka stays alive while Bangladesh bows out of semi-finals race.
Shorna Akter’s inspiring 3-wicket haul limits Sri Lanka to 203 in 48.4 overs
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu came out to bat for Sri Lanka while Marufa Akter had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Marufa started off with a bang removing Gunaratne for a golden duck off the first ball via a successful DRS. Marufa from over the wicket bowled a good length delivery pitching outside off-stump nipping back in the middle stump. Gunaratne was hanging back to defend with angled bat facing to midwicket and was beaten on the inside edge as the ball hit the front pad. The appeal was not given. Bangladesh reviewed and got the decision in their favour. Hasini Perera came out to bat next.
Perera got off the mark with a boundary by standing tall on top of the bounce and punched it delightfully past diving extra cover for a boundary. Perera hit her again by guiding the ball between backward point and deep third man into the gap for a boundary. Nishita Akter Nishi had ball in hand from the other end. Chamari too her own and got a lucky boundary as she looked to hoick across the line and got an inside edge past the leg stump and beat short fine leg for a boundary.
Marufa continued and bowled a decent over. Nishita continued and bowled a quiet over. Chamari broke the shackles by launching Marufa over backward point for a maximum. The next ball, Chamari picked up a boundary by whipping it over square leg for a boundary. Marufa bowled another good over. Nishi continued as Perera got down on one knee and used the pace of the bowler and swept it away through fine leg region for a boundary.
Nahida Akter came into the attack. Chamari climbed onto her by rocking back and pulled it over square leg for a boundary. Nishi continued as Chamari hit the flighted delivery by rocking back and get it through midwicket and short midwicket as well. Nahida came into the attack as Chamari got down on one knee for a big sweep and past short fine leg for a boundary. Nahida returned as Chamari hits her through short fine leg for a boundary. Chamari hit a short and wide ball outside off-stump through the covers for a boundary. Chamari then took on Nahida and deposited it over wide long-on for the maximum.
Marufa continued as Hasini flicked it away to midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Sri Lanka were 64/1 in 10 overs. Nahida came back into the attack post powerplay. Nahida bowled a quiet over. Nishi continued as Sultana dropped the catch of Perera which turned out to be a big moment in the game. Rabeya Khan came into the attack and she dropped Chamari off her own bowling as it was a tough chance. Rabeya bounced back and got rid of Chamari for 46 off 43 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes to her name.
Rabeya bowled it full on the middle stump which spun back into the left-hander. Chamari got forward to block and played outside its line and was beaten on the inside edge and got hit on the front pad. The umpire gave it OUT. Chamari reviewed in hope and burnt the review. Harshitha Samarawickrama came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Nishi continued as Perera opened the bat face and drove it between backward point and cover point for a boundary. Hasini hit Nishi again through a slog sweep through vacant fine leg region.
Rabeya bowled a miserly over. Nishi continued and bowled a tight over. Rabeya continued as Harshita was run out for 4 off 11 balls as she wanted the second run and fell short of the crease. Kavisha Dilhari came out to beat next. Nahida continued as Dilhari glanced it away past short fine leg for a boundary to get off the mark. Rabeya continued as Hasini lunged forward to smash it past covers for a boundary. Perera hit another boundary through short fine leg region for a boundary. The 100 is up for Sri Lanka in 19 overs.
Nahida then got rid of Dilhari for 4 off 6 balls with a boundary to her name with a lucky dismissal. Nahida bowled full outside the off-stump which was too close to cut and came back in. Dilhari rocked back to play it late behind square on off-side and got an inside edge bouncing in front of the keeper. The ball was going very close to the off-stump as the ball deflected off the keeper’s left pad and rolled back to hit the off-stump. The bails came off, a stumping check was done and the foot was on the line. OUT was the call on the screen.
Nilakshi de Silva came out to bat next and got off the mark. Sri Lanka were 101/4 in 20 overs. Nilakshi took on Rabeya Khan and deposited her over wide long-on for the maximum. Ritu Moni came out to bat next. Nilakshi took her on and deposited the ball over long-on for the maximum. Rabeya continued as Hasini stepped down the track and went straight down the ground over long-off for the maximum. Perera got to her fifty in 65 balls.
Moni continued as Hasini flicked it between mid-on and midwicket region for a boundary. Hasini then hit Moni through deep midwicket region as Nahida put her down at short midwicket. Nishi bowled a quiet over as Sri Lanka reached 132/4 in 25 overs at the halfway stage of the innings. Shorna Akter was introduced into the attack next. Perera hit her by opening the face of the bat and guiding down to third man for a boundary. Hasini was dropped this time by Rubya Haider.
Moni continued and bowled a good over. Shorna too kept things tight. Marufa returned as Hasini helped it on its way by flicking it between short fine leg and deep backward square leg for a boundary. Sri Lanka were 155/4 in 29 overs. Shorna continued and kept things tight. Sri Lanka were 159/4 in 30 overs. Moni continued as Nilakshi got forward and played late with an open faced bat. Shorna continued as Hasini rocked back and cut it through point for a boundary.
Shorna broke the partnership and got rid of Nilakshi for 37 off 38 balls with one four and 2 sixes to her name. Shorna bowled a leg break which was full and outside off-stump spinning away. Nilakshi danced down the track for a wild swing across the line and she wasn’t to the pitch of the ball but still swung hard against the spin. The batter lost her shape and got a top edge going straight to Nishi at short third man. Anushka Sanjeewani came out to bat next.
Nishi too bowled a miserly over. Shorna dismissed Sanjeewani for 2 off 7 balls. Shorna bowled a full slower ball through the air on the middle and leg stump line with nice flight and good drift as well. The batter played in the leg side, Sanjeewani was early on closing the bat face on the flick and lost her shape completely. The leading edge went to lose their way. Sugandika Kumari came onto bowl. She bowled a miserly over. Sri Lanka were 180/6 in 34 overs.
Nishi then got rid of Kumari for 1 off 4 balls. Nishi bowled full on the middle stump, Kumari was rooted to her crease and got down on one knee to sweep it away. It was slightly too full to execute the stroke and she missed on the inside edge. There was no bat involved and with that the ball tracking showed three reds forcing the umpire to change his decision. Udeshika Prabodhani came out to bat next. Nishi kept things tight. Shorna then struck a major blow as she dismissed in Perera the well set batter for 85 off 99 balls with 13 fours and a maximum to her name. Malki Madara came out to bat next.
Rubeya returned and bowled a miserly over. Shorna continued and kept things tight as well. Nahida bowled another maiden over and she is someone to look forward to in the future. Nahida bowled another ,maiden as captain. After 40 overs, The Lankans were 186/8 in 20 overs. Nahida bowled another good over. A
ktar returned as Madara rocked back and cut it past diving backward point for her boundary. Moni returned and kept things under check. Shorna delivered a maiden over as Bangladesh reached 192/8 in 44 overs. Moni also kept things tight as Sri Lanka were 193/8 in 45 overs.
Rabeya bowled another maiden over. Sobhana Mostary came out to bat next. Prabodhani survived a missed stumping as the foot was in the air but it was missed by the captain. The batter survived. Fahima came out to the middle. Prabodhani slapped to the backward point region as the new keeper missed the ball. Rabeya continued as Udeshika rocked back and slapped it between extra cover and cover. The 200 came up in 47.3 overs.
Rabeya then dismissed Prabodhani for 8 off 37 balls with a boundary to her name. Rabeya bowled full at the middle stump and tried to slog sweep it but missed the line of the ball. The bat crashed onto her legs. The flight did the trick down over the batter. Inoka Ranaweera came out to bat next. She got off the mark. with a maximum to Gill out through the flicking the ball to square leg for a maximum. Madara was run out for 9 in 42 balls. The 200 is up for Sri Lanka and with Madara, the match was in the balance stage, but could not get the job done. Sri Lanka made 202 in 48.4 overs.
Shorna Akter picked up 3 wickets while Rabeya Khan picked up a couple of wickets as well. The others chipped in getting a wicket each with Marufa, Nishita, Nahida getting a wicket each. It was a good performance from Bangladesh. So, Bangladesh needed 203 runs to win this match.
Chamari Athapaththu’s inspirational 4-wicket haul helps Sri Lanka pull off a heist
Chasing this 203 run target, Fargana Hoque and Rubya Haider came out to bat for Bangladesh while Malki Madara came out to bowl for Sri Lanka. Madara started with a good first over. Udeshika Prabodhani had ball in hand from the other end. She dismissed Haider for a duck. She bowled a fuller length delivery shaping away outside off-stump, Haider did not move her feet and still had a feel for it and played away from the body and got the outside edge through to the keeper. Sharmin Akhter came out to bat next,
Madara continued as Hoque managed to get a boundary through the point region. Hoque was dropped by Madara off her own bowling. Prabodhani kept things tight. Madara bowled another tight over. Sharmin broke the shackles as she launched Prabodhani over backward square leg for the maximum. Madara though kept it tight. Prabodhani too bowled a good over as Bangladesh went to 23/1 in 10 overs at the end of the powerplay.
Madara continued after the powerplay as we had a run out to end Hoque’s stay at 7 off 35 balls with a boundary to her name. Sobhana Mostary came out to bat next. Sugandika Kumari came onto the attack and was welcomed with a boundary by Sharmin as this was hit between short third and slip fielder. Inoka Ranaweera came onto bowl next. Sharmin glanced her away to backward square leg for a boundary. Kumari kept things tight as well. Ranaweera bowled another quiet over. Kumari broke through getting rid of Mostary for 8 off 13 balls.
Kumari bowled slightly short on the stumps and it didn’t bounce as much as she expected as Mostary hoped for and rocked back to pull it hard and it went all the way almost. Vishmi down at deep midwicket took a very good catch above her head. Nigar Sultana came out to bat next. Ranaweera kept things tight. Kumari as well gave singles away. Ranaweera bowled another half decent over. Kumari bowled a miserly over as Bangladesh reached 58/3 in 20 overs. Ranaweera kept everything under check.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu came onto bowl next. Sultana broke the shackles hitting her opposite number by pulling it to deep midwicket for a boundary. Ranaweera kept things tight. Chamari continued and appealed for LBW against Sharmin. Umpire said no and Sri Lanka burnt a review. Kavisha Dilhari came into the attack. She kept it tight as Bangladesh made 73/3 in 25 overs at the halfway stage of the chase. Chamari continued as Sharmin hit a terrific cover drive. Sharmin hit another boundary by slashing past backward point for a boundary. Dilhari bowled a quiet over.
Sultana then hit Kumari for a boundary to fine leg region. Dilhari continued as the partnership reached 50 off 84 balls between the two players. Sharmin reached her fifty in 81 balls, her 10th fifty in ODIs. The 100 came up for Bangladesh in 30 overs as they reached 100/3 in 30 overs. Dilhari bowled a quiet over. Ranaweera bowled a decent over. They were 109/3 in 32 overs as Drinks was called on now. Dilhari continued after the break as runs came in singles at the moment. Madara too bowled decently. Chamari bowled a miserly over. Kumari continues Sharmin suffered with cramps and called for the physio and could not continue further. Shorna Akter came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace.
Chamari continued and bowled a miserly over. Ranaweera returned to the attack as Sultana broke the shackles by improvising by moving across and getting down on one knee before sweeping along the ground to deep square leg fence. Shorna got a life as Nilakshi dropped a sitter at long-on off Chamari. Ranaweera bowled another good over as Bangladesh reached 146/3 in 40 overs and needed 57 off 60 balls.
Chamari continued as Nigar Sultana reached her half-century off 72 balls. This was her 8th ODI fifty. The 150 came up for Bangladesh in 40.5 overs. Prabodhani continued as Shorna got a lucky boundary through backward point and short third man. Dilhari returned as Sultana swept it to deep backward square leg and a misfielding allowed a boundary. Sultana was on a roll as she hit Prabodhani for a boundary to backward point and deep point. Dilhari continued and bowled a tight over as Bangladesh reached 179/3 in 45 overs and needed 27 off 30 balls.
Chamari got the breakthrough removing Shorna for 19 off 27 balls with 1 four to her name. Chamari bowled a good length delivery pitching on the middle and leg stump spinning back in down the leg side. Shorna walked forward and tried to tickle it fine and ended up playing it too fine and the keeper took the catch and the umpire gave it OUT a little late. Ritu Moni came out to bat next. Ranaweera ended her spell wicketless and bowled decently. Sultana then took on Chamari by lofting her over mid-off for a boundary. Bangladesh now needed 12 off 12 balls.
Kumari bowled this over and knocked over Moni for 7 off 13 balls. She bowled full on the off-stump. Moni danced down the track and gave herself a lot of room and tried to drive through covers. She was too close to the pitch of the ball and she yorked herself. The ball got under the bat and hit the base of off-stump. Rabeya Khan came out to bat and got off the mark off the final ball as the equation read 9 off the final over. Chamari had ball in her hands now.
Chamari pinged Rabeya in front for 1 off 3 balls. She bowled from over the wicket a full ball on the middle stump, Rabeya got down on one keen to sweep. She played across the line and missed on the inside edge getting hit on the front pad. It looked OUT, the umpire gave it and on review by hope from Rabeya meant the review was burnt. Nahida Akter came to the crease next. She was run out for a golden duck first ball trying to get off strike. Sharmin Akhter came back to bat again.
Chamari was on a roll as she dismissed Sultana for 77 off 98 balls with 6 fours to her name. She bowled full and outside the off-stump. Sultana got down on one knee and looked to get under it for a big hit down the ground and hit it too hard with no power behind the stroke. She sliced it straight to long-off where the fielder made no mistake. Marufa Akter came out to bat next.
Chamari got her first ball LBW for golden duck. She bowled a good length delivery on the middle stump. Akter shuffled across and missed the tuck on the inside edge and got hit on the front pad. The ball rolled past short fine leg and the appeal was given. She wanted to review but it was declined by the umpires on the field. Nishita came onto bat next. Chamari held her nerve for Sri Lanka to win by 7 runs. Sharmin was unbeaten on 64 off 103 balls with 4 fours and a maximum to her name. 11 extras given by the Lankans.
Chamari Athapaththu the captain was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/42 in 10 overs. Sugandika Kumari finished with 2/38 in 9 overs. Udeshika Prabodhani finished with 1/29 in 7 overs. There were two run outs in the innings. The rest of the bowlers did a decent job as well. So, Sri Lanka keeps their slim hopes alive for semi-finals while Bangladesh are out of the tournament. Hasini Perera was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
We go to dreaded Colombo next where South Africa are scheduled to meet Pakistan in Match 22 of the tournament. South Africa already through to semi-finals, Pakistan have their slim hopes alive. Will rain be player of the match again? Only time will tell.
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