There are wins that matter, and then there are wins that mean something far beyond the scoreline. What hosts Bangladesh Women pulled off in their ODI opener against Sri Lanka was very much the latter. Chasing 206, they crossed the line with 3 wickets and 9 balls to spare and in doing so, scripted their first-ever ODI win against Sri Lanka Women.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, and for long stretches of their innings, it looked like a decision they’d be happy about. The visitors put together a competitive 205/9 from their 50 overs, but Bangladesh’s bowlers fought hard throughout to keep the total within reach.
Sri Lanka innings was a tale of three meaningful partnerships punctuated by regular wickets. Opener Hasini Perera got them off to a decent start with 27, losing their first with 68 on board and Imesha Dulani held the middle together with a 52 off 77 balls. But every time Sri Lanka threatened to accelerate, Bangladesh pulled one back.
The standout performance with the ball came from Ritu Moni, who finished with 3 wickets from 9 overs for just 36 runs. She trapped Parera LBW and then dismissed Harshitha Samarawickrama for 2. Hansima Karunaratne, in next, gave Sri Lanka some much-needed momentum with a 54 off 71 balls, and Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with a brisk 30, but neither could convert their starts into something match-defining.
Kavisha Dilhari’s 38-ball 30 was the only other notable contribution. Nahida Akter picked up 2 wickets in the closing overs as Sri Lanka finished on 205. Marufa Akter was excellent at the top, conceding just 24 runs and taking a wicket from 8 overs, and Rabeya Khan (1/31), Sobhana Mostary (1/13) both kept things tight in the middle.
The chase began disastrously as Bangladesh lost two wickets inside two overs, Juairiya Ferdous caught at slip for 5, and Sharmin Sultana bowled by Malki Madara for a duck off just 3 balls, reducing Bangladesh to 5/2. Captain Nigar Sultana steadied things briefly, playing a careful 13 off 29 balls alongside the increasingly assured Sharmin Akhter. But when Nigar fell lbw to Dewmi Vihanga in the 9th over, Bangladesh were 34/3.
What followed was, quite simply, a masterclass in batting temperament from Sharmin Akhter. She rotated the strike, worked the gaps, and continuing her rich form crafted solid 86 runs off 127 balls, studded with 13 boundaries, was the anchor the chase needed. She was well supported by Sobhana Mostary, who played a brilliant 41 off 56 balls before having to retire hurt mid-innings, and then Shorna Akter, who came in and played a flashy 35 off 48 balls, including a six, to push Bangladesh towards the target.
At 199, the game seemed to be almost done. Bangladesh needed just 7 off plenty of balls, and 6 wickets in hand, but, inexplicably, the wheels wobbled. Bangladesh lost 4 wickets as they circled the target, Sharmin Akhter stumped off Inoka Ranaweera for 86, Shorna Akter out for 35, Ritu Moni dismissed for a duck, Rabeya Khan caught for 1. From a position of comfort at 199/4, Bangladesh suddenly found themselves at 200/7, with 6 runs still needed and the tail exposed.
However, Nahida Akter and Sultana Khatun held their ground. They nudged, ran hard, and got Bangladesh over the line with 8 balls to spare. While Dewmi Vihanga scalped 3 wickets, Malki Madara bagged a couple and Nimasha Meepage and Inoka Ranaweera one each. With their first-ever ODI win against Sri Lanka secured, they’ll eye more history, a series win, during the 2nd ODI on April 22, also in Rajshahi.
