The Bangladesh – Sri Lanka Women’s ODI series opener in Rajshahi was nothing short of a thriller, marking a historic moment as Bangladesh Women secured their first-ever ODI victory against Sri Lanka. It was a game defined by gritty individual performances, with the visitors putting up a fighting 205 thanks to solid fifties from Imesha Dulani and Hansima Karunaratne. However, Bangladesh chased it down with three wickets to spare in a tense finish, largely on the back of Sharmin Akter’s masterful 86. While the Tigresses showed immense composure to cross the line, the Sri Lankan bowling unit, led by Dewmi Vihanga’s three-wicket haul, proved they have the teeth to rattle the hosts’ batting lineup.
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:
Sharmin Akter
Sharmin was the undisputed star of the first game, anchoring the Bangladesh chase with a brilliant 86 off 127 deliveries. She showed great composure at the crease, hitting 13 boundaries and maintaining a strike rate of 67.71 to guide her team toward the target. Her match-winning knock earned her the Player of the Match award and proved vital in Bangladesh securing their first-ever ODI win over Sri Lanka.
Ritu Moni
Leading the charge with the ball, Ritu was exceptionally clinical, finishing with figures of 3/36 in her 9 overs. She played a key role in breaking down the Sri Lankan top and middle order, maintaining a disciplined economy rate of 4.00 throughout her spell. While she didn’t get going with the bat, falling for a duck in a tense finish, her bowling performance was what truly set the tone for the team’s victory.
Hansima Karunaratne
Coming in at a crucial juncture for Sri Lanka, Hansima played a steady and reliable hand to help her team post a competitive total of 205. She notched up a well-earned half-century, scoring 54 runs off 71 balls, which included 6 crisp boundaries. Her strike rate of 76.05 provided the visitors with some much-needed momentum during the middle overs before she was eventually dismissed.
Dewmi Vihanga
Dewmi was the standout bowler for the visitors, making life very difficult for the Bangladesh batters during the second innings. She finished her full quota of 10 overs with impressive figures of 3/43, including one maiden over and an economy of 4.30. Her triple strike kept Sri Lanka in the hunt until the very end, though her contribution with the bat was limited to just 8 runs earlier in the day.
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 a sunny day with a high of 40°C and a low of 26°C, clear skies at night, and 0% chance of rain. The sunny skies promise a complete and interrupted 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 22, 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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