Summary: Bangladesh defeat Sri Lanka in a last-ball thriller to clinch Gold at South Asian Games 2019
Sri Lanka Women conceded a narrow defeat to their Bangladesh counterparts in the final match of the South Asian Games Women’s Cricket Tournament. Umesha Thimashini’s 4-wicket haul went in vain as Bangladesh won over Sri Lanka by 2 runs in a low scoring thriller.
Sri Lanka faced Bangladesh in the last match of the tournament at Pokhara Rangasala, Nepal. Sri Lanka Women won the toss and decided to field first.
Sent into bat, Bangladesh batters had a mixed day on the field. Opener Murshida Khatun made 14 runs before getting out to Tharika Sewwandi in the 4th over. Things toppled in the 7th over for Bangladesh when Sri Lanka’s Umesha Thimashini took 4 wickets in one over. She took the wickets of Ayasha Rahman 2(14) and Sanjida Islam 15(12) in consecutive balls while dismissing Fargana Hoque and Ritu Moni on ducks. The Bangladesh team failed to raise the run rate. Fahima Khatun added 15 runs to the team’s score. Bangladesh made 91 runs losing 8 wickets in 20 overs. Apart from Thimashini who took 4 wickets, Sewwandi, Sathya Sandeepani, Kavisha Dilhari, and Malsha Ranathunga bagged one wicket apiece.
Sri Lanka Women had a poor start to their chase as both the openers had to walk back to the pavilion cheaply. While captain Salma Khatun dismissed Janadi Anali on 1, Nahida Akter removed Thimashini on 7. Captain Harshitha Madavi tried to build on the innings, but it was Jahanara Alam who took her wicket when she on 32. The next significant contributions came from the bats of Lihini Apsara and Nilakshana Sandamini who contributed 25 and 10 runs respectively to the team’s total, but both fell to unfortunate run-outs later on.
As wickets kept falling, the scoring rate was reduced. At the end of 19 overs, Sri Lanka were at 85/7. They required 7 runs from 6 balls. Jahanara Alam bowled the final over. She defended 7 runs successfully as Sri Lanka could only add 2 more runs to their score, losing 2 wickets. Sri Lanka finished on 89/9 giving a 2-run victory to Bangladesh!
The bowling from Bangladesh was tight. While Nahida Akter took 2 wickets, Jahanara Alam, Salma Khatun and Khadija Tul Kubra scalped one wicket each. Nahida Akter was selected as the Player of the Match.
Bangladesh are thus the champions of the South Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition. Sri Lanka become the runner ups while Nepal bagged the 3rd position by winning against the Maldives a day before.
Bangladesh Women: 91/8 in 20 overs
Sri Lanka Women: 89/9 in 20 overs
Result: Bangladesh Women won by 2 runs
Player of the Match: Nahida Akter (2/9)
Tournament Results:
Bangladesh – WINNERS
Sri Lanka – RUNNER UPS
Nepal – THIRD POSITION
Loves all things female cricket