Sri Lanka take four wickets in four balls to keep hopes alive

ICC Women's World Cup, Navi Mumbai

Sri Lanka 202 (48.4 overs): Perera 85 (99); Shorna 3-27

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

Sri Lanka triumph by 7 runs

Scorecard, Table

Sri Lanka took 4 wickets successful 4 balls successful nan last complete to gain a nail-biting triumph complete Bangladesh and support their slim hopes of qualifying for nan World Cup semi-finals alive.

Chasing a below-par target of 203 connected a bully batting aboveground successful Navi Mumbai, Bangladesh needed 9 runs from nan last six deliveries.

However, Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu took wickets from nan first, 3rd and 4th balls of nan complete and Nilakshi de Silva ran retired Nahida Akter arsenic Bangladesh chased a azygous from nan 2nd delivery, bringing astir a thrilling victory.

The triumph – Sri Lanka's first of nan tourney aft 3 defeats and 2 no-results against Australia and New Zealand – moves them level connected 4 points pinch India and New Zealand, who meet connected Thursday.

Bangladesh, however, suffered a 5th consecutive conclusion since winning their tourney opener against Pakistan and person been eliminated.

Although Bangladesh made nan cleanable start, Marufa Akter striking pinch nan first transportation of nan lucifer to region Vishmi Gunaratne, they were deservedly punished for a mediocre fielding performance.

They talented lifelines to Hasini Perera, who was dropped 3 times, and Athapaththu.

Although Athapaththu could not capitalise, dismissed lbw for 46 1 shot aft being put down by Rabeya Khan, Perera made Bangladesh pay.

She scored a maiden world half-century, making 85 from 99 balls and sharing an important 74-run fifth-wicket guidelines pinch De Silva.

Bangladesh, led by Shorna Akter's 3-27, dragged themselves backmost into nan match, pinch De Silva's dismissal successful nan 34th complete triggering a Sri Lanka illness from 174-4 to 202 each out.

In reply, Sri Lanka's opening bowlers Malki Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani restricted Bangladesh to 23-1 successful a lacklustre powerplay and they were later reduced to 44-3.

Sharmin Akter and Nigar Sultana Joty rebuilt their innings, putting connected 82 for nan 4th wicket earlier Sharmin retired wounded for a stubborn 64 successful nan 36th over.

It was advantage Bangladesh heading into nan last 2 overs, pinch conscionable 12 runs needed.

However, Sugandika Dasanayaka removed Ritu Moni and conceded conscionable 3 runs earlier Athapaththu's chaos, pinch Rabeya, Nahida, skipper Joty and Marufa each dismissed arsenic Sri Lanka snatched nan triumph astatine nan death.

In nan end, it was a crippled of nerves. The highly knowledgeable Athapaththu, who ushered distant a fistful of team-mates arsenic she prepared to vessel nan last over, held hers. Bangladesh did not.

There will beryllium plentifulness of questions astir Bangladesh's batting performance. They could easy person been chasing 270 aliases 280 pinch Sri Lanka looking comfortable connected 159-4 successful nan 30th over, but alternatively nan target was overmuch lower.

However, Bangladesh lacked intent from shot one, scoring astatine nether 2.5 runs per complete during nan powerplay, suffering a top-order collapse, and yet leaving themselves excessively overmuch to do.

But immoderate problems location are pinch their batting, if they had taken their chances successful nan field, that 203-run target would person been considerably smaller.

It took them 3 attempts to break nan 72-run second-wicket stand, pinch wicketkeeper Joty failing to return a reliable chance down nan stumps to region Perera connected 23 earlier Athapaththu survived a caught and bowled chance against Rabeya. It was powerfully struck backmost astatine nan bowler, but she sewage 2 hands to it.

Perera was dropped again connected 55 and 63, nan second chance going consecutive to Rubya Haider Jhilik astatine cover, earlier yet being trapped lbw by Shorna arsenic she tried to up nan ante pinch partners falling astir her.

Later successful nan innings, location was besides a missed stumping and a missed run-out, though nan second was a small unfortunate, pinch Jhilik deputising pinch nan gloves pursuing an wounded to Joty.

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, specified fielding woes are acold from a one-off. They've dropped 14 catches from a imaginable 27 astatine this tourney and boast nan lowest drawback ratio (48.1%) of nan 8 teams.

They are a broadside who are mostly heading successful nan correct guidance – they are playing successful conscionable their 2nd 50-over World Cup aft each – but mediocre fielding is simply a glaring problem which needs attention.