Monday May 04, 2026
Monday May 04, 2026
Wednesday, 29 April 2026 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Harshitha Samarawickrama and Imesha Dulani laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s victory
An excellent all-round performance from Sri Lanka helped them secure a 25-run win in the first WT20I against Bangladesh at Sylhet yesterday and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka's charge was led by half centuries from Player of the Match Harshitha Samarawickrama (61 off 35 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Imesha Dulani (55 off 40 balls, 7 fours) who put together a partnership of 80 for the third wicket in nine overs, and skipper Chamari Athapaththu's all-round contribution (32 off 30 balls and 2/19).
Put in to bat, Sri Lanka lost opener Hasini Perera early, but Athapaththu and Dulani controlled the innings despite a slow start. The second-wicket pair added 42 runs in 32 balls before the former became Sultana Khatun's second victim of the day. However, it was the stand between Dulani and Samarawickrama that laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's total of 161-4.
Samarawickrama clubbed Khatun for a six in the 14th over and pressed the accelerator to her innings soon after Dulani brought up her half-century. She creamed a boundary and a six off Fariha Trisna through deep midwicket in the 18th over, and then hit Nahida Akter for a four in the next over before bringing up her half-century. She fell in the last ball of the innings after picking up 12 runs off the final over to place her team in a comfortable position.
Bangladesh's openers Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous provided them with a brisk start, blazing away to 39 runs in 21 balls before the latter was out stumped to Athapaththu. Bangladesh couldn't capitalise on that start, and Sri Lanka clawed their way back with quick wickets.
In a space of 12 balls, Bangladesh were reduced to 44-4, and left reeling in the chase. Shorna Akter and Sobhana Mostary steadied the chase briefly with a 39-run stand, but the scoring rate had dipped to run-a-ball by then, forcing them to go on the attack. Athapaththu ended that stand as well, in the 14th over, having Mostary stumped on 16.
Even as Shorna continued to wage a lone battle, the required rate had mounted significantly. Without much support from the other end, she went past her half-century before getting run out on the final ball of the innings for a 45-ball 60 (4 fours, 2 sixes).
The second WT20I will be played at the same venue on Thursday.
Scores:
Sri Lanka Women: 161-4 (20) (Chamari Athapaththu 32, Imesha Dulani 55 Harshitha Samarawickrama 61, Sultana Khatun 2/29)
Bangladesh Women: 136-7 (20) (Dilara Akter 23, Shorna Akter 60, Malki Madara 2/31, Mithali Ayodhya 2/34, Chamari Athapaththu 2/19)
