Monday May 04, 2026
Monday May 04, 2026
Thursday, 23 April 2026 03:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka players congratulate their Captain Chamari Athapaththu, who helped dismiss Bangladesh for 165
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Harshitha Samarawickrama scored a half-century in Sri Lanka’s run chase
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Sri Lanka Women’s cricket Captain Chamari Athapaththu returned from a finger injury to lead her team to a series-levelling four-wicket win against Bangladesh in the second WODI played at Rajshahi yesterday.
Athapaththu, forced to miss the first WODI which Sri Lanka lost to Bangladesh by three wickets three days ago, roared back into action, bagging 3/36 from her eight overs to restrict the hosts to 165 despite Nigar Sultana’s fighting 58 off 101 balls (4 fours). With the bat then, she made a quick 39-ball 40 (8 fours) to set the base for a chase Sri Lanka completed with 70 balls to spare, aided by Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 50 off 76 balls (7 fours).
The Bangladesh Captain won the toss and elected to bat, but the hosts struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. Malki Madara struck in back-to-back overs within the powerplay to reduce the hosts to 4/2. Nigar then joined hands with Sharmin Sultana to resurrect the batting with a 45-run stand that was, unfortunately, the best of the day for the home side.
Once Sharmin fell, Nigar continued to forge little partnerships but every time Sri Lanka struck back at crucial junctures to never allow them the momentum. Nahida Akter provided some late resistance with 20 runs, but the team was eventually bowled out for 165 in under 46 overs, with Inoka Ranaweera and Nimasha Meepage also picking up two wickets apiece, besides Madara.
In response, Sri Lanka also faced an early stutter but remained composed throughout the chase. Player of the Match Athapaththu fell having made more than half of Sri Lanka’s 79 at the time, but Samarawickrama and Hansima Karunaratne (40 off 64 balls, 6 fours) built a 77-run partnership to all but seal the fate of the game.
Nahida, who had earlier claimed Athapththtu’s wicket, did strike in successive overs to dent Sri Lanka’s charge by taking out both set batters. However, there was little left to do for the visitors. Her impressive spell ended with figures of 4/21 but all in vain. The three-match series is now tied at 1-1, with the final ODI set to decide the winner on Saturday.
Scores:
Bangladesh Women 165 (45.5) (Sarmin Sultana 25, Nigar Sultana 58, Nahida Akter 20, Malki Madara 2/30, Nimasha Meepage 2/29, Inoka Ranaweera 2/28, Chamari Athapaththu 3/36)
Sri Lanka Women 166-6 (38.2) (Chamari Athapaththu 40, Harshitha Samarawickrama 50, Hansima Karunaratne 40, Nahida Akter 4/21)
