Bangladesh Crash Out in Thriller, Sri Lanka Keep Hopes Alive

In a dramatic finish, Sri Lanka held their nerve to clinch a stunning victory over Bangladesh, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Despite needing only 12 runs off the last 12 balls with six wickets in hand, Nigar Sultana’s side failed to cross the line, bowing out of the playoff race. Joy erupted in the Sri Lankan dugout as their semifinal dream stayed alive.

Chasing 203, Bangladesh were under pressure right from the start. Opener Rubaiya Haider Jhilik departed for a duck in just the second over. At the other end, Farzana Hoque tried to steady the innings but her ultra-cautious approach backfired — she managed only 7 off 35 balls before being run out.

Subhana Mostary, who came in at No. 4, didn’t last long either, falling for 8 off 13 deliveries. At 44 for 3, Bangladesh were in trouble.

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akter Supta then led a recovery with an 82-run stand, though the pair struggled to rotate the strike consistently. Supta retired hurt for 64, and from there the innings began to unravel.

Sworna Akter joined Joty and briefly steadied the chase, but her dismissal for 19 turned the tide again. None of the lower-order batters could stay long enough to finish the job.

Bangladesh entered the final over needing 9 runs with 4 wickets in hand. Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu took the ball and turned the game on its head — Rabeya was trapped lbw off the first ball, Nahida Akter was run out attempting a risky single on the second, Joty was caught on the third, and Marufa Akter fell lbw on the fourth. Four wickets in four balls sealed Bangladesh’s fate.

With 9 needed off the last two balls, Bangladesh managed just a single, losing the match by 7 runs and ending their playoff journey.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 202 runs, built around Hasini Perera’s maiden international fifty in her 143rd match. She top-scored with 85, while Chamari Athapaththu (46) and Nilakshi Silva (37) offered support.

Sworna Akter was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, taking 3 for 27, including the key wickets of Hasini and Nilakshi. Despite some lapses in the field, Bangladesh impressed with sharp use of reviews, while Marufa Akter and Nishita Akter also bowled tidy spells.

From 72 for 1, Sri Lanka stumbled to 100 for 4, before Hasini and Nilakshi’s 74-run stand revived their innings. However, they could add only 18 runs in the last 73 balls.

In the end, the thrilling contest went Sri Lanka’s way — and with it, their semifinal hopes remain alive.