Sri Lanka secured their first victory of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 with a nail-biting 7-run win over Bangladesh at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Monday. After posting 202 all out in 48.4 overs, Sri Lanka defended the modest total thanks to captain Chamari Athapaththu’s brilliant bowling performance of 4 for 42 in the final overs. Bangladesh fell agonizingly short at 195/9 in their 50 overs despite a fighting effort.
Sources: Social News XYZ, IANS Live, ESPNcricinfo
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Women | 202 | 48.4 | All out | Won by 7 runs |
| Bangladesh Women | 195 | 50.0 | 9 wickets | Lost |
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hasini Perera | Sri Lanka | Batter | 85 runs off 99 balls |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | Captain/All-rounder | 46 runs & 4/42 bowling |
| Shorna Akter | Bangladesh | Bowler | 3/27 in 10 overs |
| Nigar Sultana | Bangladesh | Captain/Batter | 77 runs off 98 balls |
| Sharmin Akhter | Bangladesh | Batter | 64* not out |
Key Moments
- Vishmi Gunaratne dismissed off the very first ball of the match by Marufa Akter’s superb inswinger
- Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera steadied the innings with a fluent 72-run partnership for the second wicket
- Sri Lanka collapsed dramatically, losing their last six wickets for just 28 runs
- Shorna Akter’s leg-spin destroyed the middle order with figures of 3 for 27
- Bangladesh needed 12 runs from the final over but Chamari Athapaththu took four wickets in the last over, including a hat-trick sequence
- Chamari Athapaththu became the first Sri Lankan woman cricketer to score 4000 ODI runs during her innings of 46
Match Analysis
Sri Lanka’s innings looked promising early on, with hopes of reaching 270-280, but unravelled completely under Bangladesh’s spin pressure. Hasini Perera’s outstanding knock of 85 off 99 balls was the lone bright spot as wickets tumbled around her.
Between the 31st and 40th overs, Sri Lanka managed only 27 runs while losing four wickets, which completely derailed their innings. Bangladesh’s fielding was poor with several catches dropped, allowing Sri Lanka to reach 202.
In the chase, Bangladesh started poorly but fought back through partnerships. Captain Nigar Sultana’s 77 runs kept Bangladesh in the hunt until the dramatic final over. However, Athapaththu’s heroics with the ball, taking four wickets including three in four balls, sealed a memorable victory for Sri Lanka.
This win keeps Sri Lanka’s slim semi-final hopes alive in the tournament, though they remain dependent on other results. For Bangladesh, it was a heartbreaking loss after coming so close to victory.
What’s Next?
Both teams face crucial remaining fixtures in their World Cup campaigns. Sri Lanka will next face Pakistan on October 24 in what will be another must-win encounter. Bangladesh will need to regroup quickly as they look to salvage their tournament hopes. With Australia, South Africa, and England already securing semi-final spots, the fight for the fourth spot remains wide open.
Match Date: October 20, 2025
Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Tournament: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025