The twenty-first clash of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 brings together two spirited Asian rivals as Sri Lanka Women face Bangladesh Women on October 20th at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. The contest begins at 3:00 PM (IST) and promises a compelling battle between two determined outfits eager to regain momentum in the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s campaign so far has been marred by inconsistency and weather interruptions. Their opening fixture against India showcased glimpses of promise — reducing the hosts to 124/6 before a revised DLS target of 271 proved too steep. A rain-abandoned game against Australia halted their rhythm, followed by a batting collapse against England (164 all out chasing 254). Their struggles continued as another rain-affected match against New Zealand yielded no result, and a crushing 10-wicket loss to South Africa further dented their semi-final hopes.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have shown commendable fight throughout the competition. They opened with a clinical victory over Pakistan, defending a modest total with tactical brilliance. Against England, they came tantalisingly close to a monumental upset — reducing the champions to 103/6 before Heather Knight rescued her side. Subsequent matches against New Zealand and South Africa tested their depth; despite posting 232 against the Proteas, they narrowly lost in the final over. Their latest outing saw them face Australia, where they suffered a commanding 10-wicket defeat, but the team’s collective progress and fighting spirit remain evident.
Squads:
Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team
Nigar Sultana (C & WK), Sobhana Mostary, Murshida Khatun, Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Ritu Moni, Salma Khatun, Lata Mondal, Sultana Khatun, Fariha Trisna, Dilara Akter, Shorifa Khatun
Players to watch out:
Nilakshi de Silva
Sri Lanka’s quiet achiever, Nilakshi de Silva, continues to impress with her calm temperament and stroke-making ability. Her fluent 75 against Bangladesh in the warm-ups and quickfire 35 off 29 against India showcased her ability to adapt to different situations. A blistering 55* off 28 versus New Zealand underlined her finishing prowess, while she chipped in with 18 against South Africa. In 52 ODIs, Nilakshi has amassed 1,072 runs and taken 4 wickets, underlining her growing importance in the middle order.
Chamari Athapaththu
The heartbeat of Sri Lankan cricket, Chamari Athapaththu, remains her side’s biggest match-winner. Despite modest returns this tournament (43 vs India, 15 vs England, 11 vs South Africa), her pedigree is unquestionable — 3,999 runs in 119 ODIs, including a memorable 195 against Australia, along with 46 wickets with the ball. As captain, Athapaththu’s aggressive mindset and tactical nous will be vital to inspire a turnaround.
Nigar Sultana Joty
Bangladesh’s captain and wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana Joty is the rock of their batting order. With 1,388 runs in 63 ODIs, including a century, her calm presence at the crease anchors the innings. Although her recent scores (23, 0, 4, 32, 12) suggest a dip, her overall consistency and sharp glovework remain invaluable. Her leadership and ability to marshal the middle overs will be pivotal in Bangladesh’s quest for victory.
Fahima Khatun
The crafty leg-spinner Fahima Khatun continues to be Bangladesh’s trump card with the ball. Her spell of 3 for 16 in 10 overs against England exemplified her control and tactical brilliance, as she choked the scoring and induced false strokes. With 41 wickets in 54 ODIs (best: 5/21) and 394 runs, Fahima’s dual skill set provides perfect balance to the side. Expect her to play a key role on a surface likely to assist spin in the second innings.
Pitch:
The DY Patil Sports Academy traditionally offers a true batting surface with even bounce, allowing batters to play through the line confidently. However, as the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down, bringing spinners into play. Teams winning the toss often prefer to bat first and capitalize on the early scoring conditions before the pitch grips later. A competitive total around 250–270 could prove decisive.
Weather:
Navi Mumbai will experience clear skies and humid conditions, with temperatures hovering around 36°C. The chance of rain is virtually nil (0%), ensuring an uninterrupted contest. Humidity is expected to rise to 54% by evening, while gentle winds of 10 kph may offer slight assistance to seamers early on. Spinners could find grip and turn as the day progresses.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Chamari Athapaththu, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Inoka Ranaweera, Nigar Sultana Joty, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Sobhana Mostary, Nishita Akter, Shorna Akter
Match Details:
Date – October 20, 2025
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Broadcast – Live streaming on JioCinema; Telecast on Star Sports Network
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