The Bangladesh – Sri Lanka Women’s ODI series is set for a thrilling conclusion to the ODI leg of the tour, with the series currently locked at 1-1 after two hard-fought encounters in Rajshahi. Bangladesh drew first blood in a tense opener, chasing down 205 with just three wickets and nine balls to spare thanks to a gritty 86 from Sharmin Akhter. However, Sri Lanka bounced back clinically in the second game; after their bowlers bundled out the hosts for 165, captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama led a composed chase to level the scores. With everything to play for in the 3rd and final ODI, this final match has essentially turned into a winner-takes-all final before the teams shifts their focus to the T20s.
The spotlight tomorrow will firmly be on the battle between Bangladesh’s disciplined spin attack and Sri Lanka’s experienced top order. Nahida Akter has been the standout performer with the ball, fresh off a brilliant four-wicket haul that gave the visitors a real scare in the previous outing. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be leaning heavily on the momentum of Harshitha Samarawickrama, who looked in sublime touch during her half-century, and the all-round threat of Athapaththu. If the Bangladeshi middle order, led by Nigar Sultana, can convert their starts into a substantial total, they have every chance of toppling the higher-ranked Lankans.
Squads:
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team
Nigar Sultana Joty (C), Nahida Akter, Fargana Haque, Sobhana Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sarmin Sultana, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Juairiya Ferdous
Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team
Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madara, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Tiumi Wathsala, Kawya Kavindi, Chethana Vimukthi, Nimesha Nadushani
Players to watch out:
Nigar Sultana Joty
Nigar Sultana has been a steadying force in the middle order during this series, showing great composure under pressure. Across her two innings, she has accumulated 71 runs with a solid highest score of 58, maintaining a decent average of 35.50. Her ability to rotate the strike is evident from her 54.61 strike rate, and she has reliably found the boundary 6 times to keep the scoreboard moving for Bangladesh.
Imesha Dulani
Imesha Dulani has provided some vital contributions for the Sri Lankan side, proving she can hang tough against a disciplined bowling attack. She has scored a total of 60 runs in her two outings so far, including a well-played half-century with a top score of 52. Currently averaging 30.00 at a strike rate of 63.82, she has looked comfortable at the crease while dispatching 7 boundaries during her time in the middle.
Nahida Akter
Nahida Akter has been absolutely clinical with the ball, making life difficult for the batters in every spell she bowls. She sits at the top of the wickets chart with 6 dismissals in just two matches, boasting an incredible best bowling figure of 4/21. With an elite economy rate of 3.40 and a strike rate of 17.33, her consistency has been a major factor in stifling the opposition’s scoring opportunities.
Malki Madara
Malki Madara has emerged as a key wicket-taking option for Sri Lanka, consistently breaking partnerships at crucial moments. She has picked up 4 wickets over two innings with a best performance of 2/30, keeping things tight with a respectable economy of 3.82. Having bowled over 17 overs already, her workload and average of 16.75 highlight her importance to the team’s bowling strategy in this tour.
Pitch:
The pitch at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium is typically sluggish and dry, strongly favoring bowlers, especially spinners who are expected to control the game through the middle overs. Batting can be challenging due to the slow nature of the surface, where the ball tends to grip and turn, making stroke play difficult.
Weather:
Expect sunny skies with a high of 37°C and a low of 26°C, along with a 55% chance of daytime rain. Clear conditions promise an uninterrupted and complete game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Nigar Sultana Joty, Sobhana Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Dewmi Vihanga
Match Details:
Date – April 25, 2026
Time – 9:00 AM IST
Venue – Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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