Sri Lanka 115 for 6 (Samarawickrama 48*, Marufa 3-21) beat Bangladesh 114 (Praboda 3-21, Mostary 34) by four wickets
Harshitha Samarawickrama delivered a composed 48 not out off 37 deliveries, guiding Sri Lanka to victory in a tense, low-scoring encounter against Bangladesh. The defending champions clinched their semi-final berth with a four-wicket win and, by finishing atop Group B, will face the second-placed team from Group A on Friday.An exceptional opening spell of 2 for 17 from Marufa Akter gave Bangladesh control after they set a modest target of 115, made possible by Chamudi Praboda’s career-best figures of 3 for 21.Sri Lanka struggled to keep pace with the required rate for much of the chase, losing their top order inside the powerplay and slipping to five wickets down by the tenth over. However, a resilient Samarawickrama steadied the innings, absorbing pressure through the middle overs before striking crucial blows to seal the win. This marked Sri Lanka’s seventh consecutive victory over Bangladesh.
Praboda Strangles Bangladesh
This was only the sixth international appearance for the 17-year-old left-arm spinner since making her debut against Pakistan in a three-match T20I series last month, and she doubled her wicket tally on Sunday.
As Bangladesh attempted to rebuild after Juairiya Ferdous fell in the fifth over, Praboda struck in her first over—the seventh of the match—dismissing the dangerous Dilara Akter two balls after conceding a boundary. Dilara made a run-a-ball 26, adapting to the slow surface after signalling her attacking intent in the third over by hitting three consecutive boundaries off Sri Lankan pacer Chethana Vimukthi.
Praboda and the other Sri Lankan spinners bowled with excellent discipline, using their variations cleverly to restrict the Bangladesh batters, who managed only 114 for 8.
With Sobhana Mostary (34 off 41) and Shorna Akter (9 off 14) extending their 41-run partnership into the death overs, the Bangladesh camp likely expected a more competitive total. Their ambitions were dashed by Praboda in her final over, as she removed both batters within three balls. The left-arm spinner outfoxed Mostary with flight to have her stumped, then induced Dilara to chip a tossed-up delivery back to her.
Chamudi Praboda starred with three wickets•ACC
An Unfortunate Day for Athapaththu
Dropped catches by Nilakshi Silva and Vimukthi off Chamari Athapaththu’s bowling, including a sitter put down by Silva to dismiss Mostary in the 14th over, cost Sri Lanka early. Athapaththu eventually claimed a wicket in her final over but was denied a second when on-field umpire Humaira Farah turned down a clear caught-behind appeal off the last ball of her spell.
During the chase, her time at the crease lasted just two balls, as Fahima Khatun took a sharp catch at first slip when Athapaththu advanced to launch Marufa over the top—a shot that typically clears the stands when she charges at bowlers.
Marufa Transforms a Routine Chase into a Contest
Bangladesh needed early breakthroughs to challenge what was expected to be a comfortable Sri Lankan chase, with the required rate below a run-a-ball at the start. Marufa delivered precisely that, removing both Sri Lankan openers.
Marufa had Athapaththu caught at first slip off the final ball of the first over before delivering a jaffa in her next over, rattling Imesha Dulani’s stumps with a delivery that crashed through the gate. Her three powerplay overs yielded 2 for 17.
Sri Lanka’s middle order faltered under pressure as Sanjana Kavindi was bowled by Sultana Khatun off the last ball of the powerplay. They soon found themselves five down for 44 in the tenth over, but a determined 38-run partnership between Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva revived their innings and threatened to swing the match decisively.
Searching for a breakthrough, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana turned to Marufa in the 17th over, and the seamer responded with a superb over to reclaim momentum. She bowled Silva and conceded just four runs, finishing with career-best T20I figures of 3 for 21. It was the fourth time in her 48-match T20I career that she had claimed three wickets in the format.
Samarawickrama Seals the Victory
After Ritu Moni’s immaculate first three overs, Samarawickrama plundered 16 runs off her final over—the most expensive of the match—to tilt the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.
A fortunate inside edge off the second ball raced to the fine-leg boundary as Moni followed Samarawickrama after she backed away to create room on the off side. The next ball sailed into the advertising cushions at midwicket as the batter swept the medium pacer for six. She then danced down the wicket to launch Nahida Akter for a towering six down the ground, reducing the target to two runs off the final over.
The winning moment arrived off the second ball of the final over, with the ball trickling past the keeper after brushing her pad.
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