October 21, Colombo (LNW): As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 continues to captivate fans around the globe, attention now turns to Colombo where Pakistan will face South Africa in a much-anticipated group-stage clash. The match is scheduled to commence at 3:00 p.m. Sri Lanka Time at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka delivered a spirited performance in Navi Mumbai to secure a thrilling victory over Bangladesh, edging their opponents by just seven runs in what proved to be a tightly contested 21st match of the tournament.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka looked to establish a solid platform. Captain Chamari Athapaththu opened the innings alongside Vishmi Gunaratne, though the latter fell early without scoring. Hasini Perera then joined Athapaththu at the crease, and together they forged a crucial 72-run stand that steadied the innings and frustrated the Bangladeshi bowlers.
Athapaththu, long regarded as one of the leading figures in women’s cricket, added another feather to her cap during the innings by becoming the first Sri Lankan woman to surpass 4,000 runs in One-Day Internationals. The milestone places her among an elite group, being only the fourth woman from Asia to achieve the feat. She contributed 46 runs to the total before being dismissed.
It was Hasini Perera who truly shone with the bat, notching up her first half-century in ODIs with a composed and determined 85, the highest score of the match. Despite her efforts, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 202 in 48.4 overs, a total that left the match finely balanced at the halfway mark.
Bangladesh’s reply got off to a shaky start, with three wickets tumbling for just 44 runs. A resilient partnership between Nigar Sultana and Sharmin Akter then revived their hopes, adding 82 valuable runs. Sultana led from the front with a well-crafted 77, while Akter remained unbeaten on 64, anchoring the innings to the very end.
However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing stages. Chamari Athapaththu, demonstrating her all-round prowess, delivered a decisive bowling spell, claiming four wickets for 42 runs. Her timely breakthroughs tilted the contest in Sri Lanka’s favour, as Bangladesh finished their 50 overs at 195 for 9—just short of the target.
