Sri Lanka defeats Bangladesh to preserve their World Cup campaign ongoing

Women's Cricket World Cup, Navi Mumbai

Sri Lanka 202 (48.4 overs): Perera 85 (99); Shorna Akter 3-27

The Bangladeshi team 195-9 (50 overs): Joty 77 (98); Chamari Athapaththu 4-42

The Lankan side emerge victorious by seven runs

The Lankan cricket team secured four crucial dismissals in the final over to complete a thrilling triumph over Bangladesh and preserve their faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals ongoing.

Chasing a below-par total of 203 on a favorable wicket in the Mumbai stadium, the Bangladeshi team required nine additional runs from the last six bowls.

Nevertheless, Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu took three crucial wickets in four deliveries and Nilakshi de Silva ran out Nahida to bring about a exciting victory for Sri Lanka.

The victory – Sri Lanka's initial of the tournament after three unsuccessful matches and two no-results against Australia and New Zealand – pushes them equal on four points with the Indian team and New Zealand, who meet each other on Thursday.

Bangladesh, in contrast, endured a fifth straight setback since securing victory in their initial game against Pakistan and have been knocked out.

Although Bangladesh made the perfect start, with Marufa striking with the opening bowl of the match to dismiss Vishmi Gunaratne, they were appropriately punished for a poor fielding effort.

They provided second chances to Perera, who was missed on three occasions, and Athapaththu.

While the Sri Lankan skipper was unable to make it count, sent back leg before wicket for 46 one ball after being put down by Rabeya, Perera made Bangladesh pay.

She registered a first international 50-run score, accumulating 85 from 99 bowls and sharing an crucial 74-run stand fifth-wicket with Nilakshi de Silva.

Bangladesh, led by Shorna's impressive bowling figures, pulled themselves back in the contest, with Nilakshi's dismissal in the 34th innings segment triggering a Sri Lanka batting collapse from 174 with four wickets down to 202 complete.

During their chase, Sri Lanka's starting bowlers Malki Madara and Prabodhani contained Bangladesh to 23-1 in a uninspiring initial phase and they were subsequently diminished to 44 for three.

Sharmin and Nigar Sultana Joty reconstructed their score, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket collaboration before the batter withdrew due to injury for a determined 64 in the 36th over.

It was in favor of the chasing team heading into the last two overs, with just 12 runs necessary.

However, Dasanayaka removed Ritu and allowed merely three runs before Athapaththu's dramatic spell, with Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, skipper Joty and Marufa all sent back as Sri Lanka grabbed the victory at the death.

Finally, it was a contest of composure. The highly experienced Athapaththu, who directed away a few of team-mates as she prepared to bowl the last over, maintained her nerve. The opposition failed to.

There will be numerous doubts about Bangladesh's batting display. They possibly have been chasing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team looking comfortable on 159 with four wickets down in the 30th innings segment, but in contrast the required total was significantly less.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh displayed insufficient aggression from the start, scoring at below 2.5 scoring rate during the initial phase, undergoing a early batting collapse, and eventually forcing themselves excessive to achieve.

But no matter what problems there are with their batting approach, if they had accepted their opportunities in the field, that 203 total goal would have been significantly less.

It took them three tries to break the 72-run partnership second-wicket, with wicketkeeper Joty failing to hold a tough catch while keeping to dismiss Hasini Perera on her score of 23 before Athapaththu was spared from a return catch possibility against Rabeya.

The batter was spilled again on 55 and her score of 63, the last attempt traveling right to Jhilik at cover position, before ultimately being given out leg before wicket by Shorna Akter as she sought to increase the tempo with partners getting out beside her.

Subsequently in the innings, there was also a failed stumping and a missed run-out, while the second one was a somewhat regrettable, with Rubya Haider deputising with the gloves after an injury to the regular keeper.

Regrettably for the team, such fielding issues are nowhere near a single occurrence. They've missed 14 chances from a potential 27 chances at this tournament and boast the lowest fielding effectiveness (less than 50%) of the eight teams.

They are a squad who are typically progressing in the correct path – they are competing in just their second one-day World Cup after all – but substandard fielding performance is a obvious issue which requires focus.