SL W VS BAN W MATCH 21

So, Sri Lanka Women win by 7 runs in a rollercoaster thriller! They keep their knockout hopes alive, while Bangladesh are left wondering ‘what if?’ The next clash - Match 22 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 promises to be another mouth-watering encounter as South Africa Women take on Pakistan Women in Colombo. South Africa have already sealed their spot in the knockouts, riding high on confidence with dominant performances throughout the tournament. Pakistan, though, are still searching for their first win and will need a miracle to stay alive - winning both of their remaining games and praying for a few mathematical favours to fall their way. The pressure is sky-high, the stakes even higher. That match will be played on Tuesday, 21st October, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 9.30 am GMT. Join us early for all the pre-match buildup and analysis. Until then - breathe and smile. TAKE CARE! CIAO!

The captain of Sri Lanka Women, Chamari Athapaththu, is all smiles as she walks up for a chat. On being asked about from where did they win the match, she says that they handled the pressure pretty well. Also tells that they executed the plans well in the final overs. Also admits that this was not their best games as they made too many errors in the fielding department, but feels lucky to get a win from a tough situation. She says they played four matches in Sri Lanka, but two were washed out, and adds that weather is unpredictable and something they can’t use as an excuse as professionals. With one game left, she says the team will give their best and that it would be a miracle if they still manage to reach the semifinals. Chamari mentions that she and Hasini Perera shared a good partnership before her dismissal and admits the team needs to learn from Bangladesh’s approach in the middle overs, as Sri Lanka made several mistakes with the bat. Speaking about Hasini, she praises her as a senior player, noting that though it was her first career fifty, she’s always been a solid batter and hopes she continues to perform well in the future. She also shares that after every over, she reminded the team to keep things simple, and credits the senior bowlers for doing a fine job. Once Joty was dismissed, Chamari felt the game was tilting in their favour. She recalls a moment when she and Udeshika discussed who should bowl the final over, and shares that Udeshika told her to bowl as she (herself) was in the mood. About their final game against Pakistan in Colombo, she cheekily says that she is hopeful that it doesn't rain.

The Bangladesh's skipper, Nigar Sultana Joty, looks visibly emotional as she reflects on another close defeat. She says that from the very beginning, it felt like their game to win. Adds that she and Sharmin were batting beautifully, but the momentum shifted when Sharmin had to retire hurt due to cramps. After that, Bangladesh kept losing wickets at crucial moments, something that has happened in all three of their recent matches - heartbreaking, definitely, she admits, saying that the team couldn’t quite hold their nerves under pressure. Acknowledges that her side is struggling to cope with the pressure situations and insists that they need to think deeply about how to overcome it. Praises Shorna for stepping up as a bowler and delivering incredible spells throughout the tournament. In a World Cup, you need to grab those opportunities, she says firmly. Speaking about the fielding, Joty expresses disappointment that despite being a very good fielding side, Bangladesh dropped crucial catches. It’s a mental thing, she admits, saying that the team needs to work on staying composed. With one more game left, she emphasizes the importance of rectifying their mistakes and finishing on a positive note. Reflecting on their batting approach, Joty explains that earlier in the tournament, they lost too many wickets in the Powerplay, so the plan now has been to play safer early on. However, she adds that their aim was to finish the chase before the last over, as she told her partner that they have to finish it in this over, either find the boundary or get her on strike so she can go for it, she says, showing her determination even in defeat.

Sri Lanka’s Hasini Perera is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her brilliant 85 off 99 balls. Speaking about her batting adjustments, she says that she focused on covering her off stump a bit more and looked to play anything pitched outside off. Hasini calls it an important innings for both her and the team and says she’s glad to contribute in a winning cause. She credits the bowlers for holding their nerve in the final overs and admits she should’ve finished the innings herself, adding that Sri Lanka could’ve easily scored another 40-50 runs had she done so.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

What went wrong? Underconfidence, panic, or just Chamari’s magic? The final overs were chaos! Sugandika’s breakthrough started the collapse, and then came Chamari Athapaththu’s golden touch - four wickets in the last over, including a runout. The skipper trapped batters, forced a runout, and sealed a win for the ages. Bangladesh’s lower order went from calm to crumble - losing six wickets for just 19 runs. From near victory to heartbreak, they’ll replay this in their minds for days.

But credit where it’s due - Sharmin Akhter and Nigar Sultana Joty gave Bangladesh the fight they desperately needed. An 82-run stand brought them back into the match. Sharmin’s 64, even though interrupted by cramps, was gutsy and graceful, while Nigar’s captain’s knock of 77 looked set to take her side home. The pair soaked up pressure, rotated strike cleverly, and played sensible cricket. At 176/4, Bangladesh were cruising with only 27 needed in the last five overs. But then... cricket reminded everyone it’s a game of glorious uncertainty.

And Bangladesh’s chase? It began with a whisper, not a roar. Rubya Haider gone for a duck, Fargana Hoque run out after 35 balls for just 7 - the pressure was building early. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Udeshika Prabodhani and Sugandika Kumari, kept it tight, giving away no freebies. The Powerplay yielded just 23 runs, and it felt like Bangladesh were more afraid of losing than eager to win. Was that the first sign of the storm ahead? Maybe yes.

Was there any hope then? Absolutely! Hasini Perera and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings beautifully, mixing caution with aggression. Hasini’s 85 was pure class, as she batted through the chaos, anchoring while others collapsed around her. Silva’s late cameo with two sixes brought back some life into the innings, but as wickets fell rapidly from 174/4 to 182/8, the Lankans had to settle for 202. Shorna Akter’s 3 for 27 was pure gold for Bangladesh, while Rabeya Khan’s double strike kept things tight. Yet, Sri Lanka’s fielding and bowling belief would soon prove why 202 wasn’t too small after all.

How did Sri Lanka get to 202 in the first place? After Chamari won the toss and chose to bat, the Lankans had a disastrous start - losing Vishmi Gunaratne for a duck. But Chamari, as always, led the counter-attack with trademark flair, striking six boundaries and two sixes in her quickfire 46. Hasini Perera stood tall at the other end, forming a 72-run stand that gave the innings a heartbeat. Once Chamari fell to Rabeya, the middle order faltered - Harshitha’s run-out and Kavisha’s unlucky stumping left them in trouble at 100/4.

WHAT. A. GAME! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Sri Lanka have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! Twelve runs needed off the final two overs, but Chamari Athapaththu said - 'Leave it to me.' What followed was pure drama - four wickets in the last over, a run out to finish, and absolute ecstasy for the Lankans. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be heartbroken, as they had one hand on the win but somehow managed to slip on the last step. Sri Lanka stay alive in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, while Bangladesh’s run ends here.

Chamari Athapaththu, with the nerves of steel, delivers the job in style for her side. She has defended 8 runs off the final over. The Lankan skipper fires in a fuller delivery, keeping it outside the off pole. Sharmin Akhter looks to smash it through the off side, but misses to connect. This is an absolute heist from Chamari Athapaththu and her side. Sri Lanka Women maintain a clean sheet against Bangladesh Women in ODIs. Nigar Sultana Joty is in absolute disbelief in the dugout as Bangladesh have been knocked out of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, 2025. They were in a winning position for 90 percent of the chase, but just bottled up in the final few deliveries. SRI LANKA WOMEN WIN BY 7 RUNS!

In the air... but lands safe. But it is Sri Lanka's game to lose now. Full and sliding into the batter. Nishita Akter Nishi mistimes it off the toe end and lofts it over wide mid-wicket. The ball lands safe and is mopped up by the long on fielder to her right. Only a single.

Nishita Akter Nishi is the last batter in.

OUT! LBW! What a sensational final over this has been from the Sri Lankan skipper. Chamari Athapaththu flattens the trajectory and slides it onto the leg stump line, on a good length. Marufa Akter gets across and tries to tickle it fine, but misses and the ball thuds the front pad. There is a loud, confident appeal for LBW and the finger goes up without any hesitation. Marufa Akter is a bit late to take the review as she runs out of time, and is denied by the umpire and has to walk back. CHAMARI ATHAPATHTHU IS ON A HAT TRICK!

OUT! LBW! What a sensational final over this has been from the Sri Lankan skipper. Chamari Athapaththu flattens the trajectory and slides it onto the leg stump line, on a good length. Marufa Akter gets across and tries to tickle it fine, but misses and the ball thuds the front pad. There is a loud, confident appeal for LBW and the finger goes up without any hesitation. Marufa Akter is a bit late to take the review as she runs out of time, and is denied by the umpire and has to walk back. CHAMARI ATHAPATHTHU IS ON A HAT TRICK!

Marufa Akter is in next to bat.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! A TEAM HATTRICK FOR SRI LANKA. Athapaththu wins the duel against the opposition skipper when it matters the most. This is full and on the off stump line. Nigar Sultana Joty tries to hoist it over long off, but does not get the bat properly under the ball and ends up slicing it high in the air. It descends straight into the safe hands of Nilakshika Silva stationed at the long off fence. Nigar Sultana Joty would be kicking herself for not seeing her side cross the winning line. She departs for a valiant 77 (98).