Chamari Athapaththu’s final-over heroics kept Sri Lanka’s semi-final hopes alive, but the captain admits her team must play smarter cricket if they are to go further in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
Sri Lanka pulled off one of the most dramatic victories of the tournament, edging out Bangladesh by seven runs in Navi Mumbai. Defending 202, the Lankans looked down and out until Athapaththu produced a stunning last over with the ball, claiming three wickets and engineering a run-out as Bangladesh lost four wickets in four balls. The collapse turned what looked like a comfortable chase into heartbreak for Bangladesh, eliminating them from semi-final contention.
Despite the victory, Athapaththu was blunt in her assessment of her team’s performance. “We dropped catches, our batting was inconsistent, and we made too many mistakes. It was not our best game, and we were lucky to win. If we want to improve women’s cricket in Sri Lanka, we must play positive and smart cricket every time we step onto the field,” she said.
Sri Lanka’s batting had been built around Hasini Perera’s career-best 85, but a late collapse left them with a modest 202. Athapaththu herself contributed 46, forming a 72-run stand with Hasini before the innings unraveled. Perera, who was dropped three times by Bangladesh fielders, was named Player of the Match, but the Lankans know they missed the chance to set a far bigger total.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, looked in control of the chase for most of the innings. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty led from the front with a composed 77, combining in steady partnerships with Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter. But their cautious approach backfired, and when Sharmin retired hurt with 77 still needed, the middle order failed to adapt under pressure. Bangladesh’s inability to rotate strike and capitalize on loose deliveries kept Sri Lanka in the contest.
The real turning point came in the final two overs. Athapaththu, brought back to bowl the last over, dismantled Bangladesh’s lower order with relentless accuracy. What seemed like a routine finish turned into chaos as wickets tumbled, leaving Bangladesh stunned and Sri Lanka celebrating a famous escape.
Bangladesh’s captain admitted the loss was devastating. “We have played three matches like this, losing control at the crucial moment. It is very heartbreaking. Our planning fails, and we lose wickets under pressure,” Nigar said. She also highlighted their fielding errors, noting that dropped catches of Hasini Perera had cost them dearly.
For Sri Lanka, the victory breathes life into their campaign, but Athapaththu was clear: improvements are non-negotiable. With one more group match left, against Pakistan, she acknowledged that qualifying for the semi-finals would be nothing short of a miracle. Yet, the fighting spirit shown in Navi Mumbai has given them a chance.
The result leaves Sri Lanka still in contention, while Bangladesh exit with regrets over missed chances. For Athapaththu and her team, the task now is to transform luck into consistency if they are to challenge the heavyweights of the tournament.
