Sri Lanka overcomes the Bangladeshi side to preserve their tournament hopes alive

Women's Cricket World Cup, Navi Mumbai

The Lankan team 202 (48.4 overs): Perera 85 (99); Shorna Akter 3-27

Bangladesh 195-9 (50 overs): Joty 77 (98); Athapaththu 4-42

Sri Lanka win by seven runs margin

Sri Lanka took four crucial dismissals in the last innings segment to achieve a nail-biting victory over their opponents and preserve their narrow aspirations of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals intact.

Needing a attainable total of 203 on a favorable wicket in the Mumbai stadium, the Bangladeshi team required nine more runs from the last six bowls.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu claimed three wickets in four balls and de Silva dismissed via run-out Nahida Akter to secure a thrilling win for Sri Lanka.

The win – the Lankan team's first of the tournament after three losses and two abandoned games against the Australian team and the Kiwi side – moves them tied on four points with the Indian team and New Zealand, who meet each other on the coming Thursday.

The Bangladeshi team, however, endured a fifth straight loss since winning their first match against the Pakistani team and have been knocked out.

Even though the Bangladeshi side got off to the excellent commencement, with Marufa taking a wicket with the opening bowl of the encounter to send back Vishmi Gunaratne, they were appropriately penalized for a subpar fielding display.

They provided second chances to Hasini Perera, who was missed three times, and the Lankan captain.

Even though the Sri Lankan skipper failed to capitalise, dismissed lbw for 46 a single bowl after being missed by Rabeya Khan, Hasini Perera forced Bangladesh regret it.

She achieved a maiden international 50-run score, accumulating 85 from 99 balls and contributing to an crucial 74-run stand fifth-wicket with Nilakshi de Silva.

Bangladesh, spearheaded by Shorna Akter's three wickets for 27 runs, fought themselves back to the match, with De Silva's removal in the 34th innings segment causing a Lankan collapse from 174-4 to 202 total.

During their chase, the Lankan team's initial pace attack Malki Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani contained Bangladesh to 23-1 in a disappointing opening overs and they were afterwards diminished to 44-3.

Sharmin and Joty reconstructed their innings, adding an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand before the batter withdrew due to injury for a stubborn 64 in the 36th innings segment.

It was advantage Bangladesh approaching the remaining two bowling phases, with just 12 additional runs needed.

Nevertheless, Sugandika Dasanayaka sent back Ritu Moni and allowed only three runs before the captain's dramatic spell, with Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, skipper Joty and Marufa all dismissed as the Lankan team seized the victory at the very end.

In the end, it was a game of composure. The very experienced Lankan captain, who directed away a several of fellow players as she prepared to deliver the last over, maintained her composure. The opposition failed to.

There will be many inquiries about Bangladesh's batting display. They possibly have been needing 270 or 280 with the Lankan team looking comfortable on 159-4 in the 30th innings segment, but rather the chase was much lower.

Yet, the batting side showed little intent from the start, accumulating runs at less than 2.5 runs per over during the opening overs, suffering a initial wicket loss, and finally leaving themselves overwhelming to accomplish.

But whatever issues there are with their batting, if they had taken their catches in the field, that 203 total objective would have been considerably smaller.

It required them three attempts to break the 72-run second-wicket collaboration, with keeper Nigar Sultana being unable to take a tough catch while keeping to remove Hasini Perera on her score of 23 before the captain got a reprieve from a caught and bowled opportunity against Rabeya Khan.

The batter was missed further on 55 and 63, the last attempt going straight to Jhilik at cover field, before finally being dismissed lbw by Shorna Akter as she tried to increase the tempo with partners getting out near her.

Subsequently in the batting effort, there was also a stumping chance missed and a failed run-out, while the latter was a little regrettable, with Jhilik standing in with the gloves due to an fitness issue to Joty.

Regrettably for the team, such fielding issues are far from a isolated incident. They've dropped 14 chances from a possible 27 chances at this World Cup and have the lowest fielding effectiveness (48.1 percent) of the competing sides.

They are a side who are typically moving in the right direction – they are competing in just their second 50-over World Cup ultimately – but poor fielding is a glaring problem which demands focus.