It was an unbelievable record that will go down the annals of Women’s Cricket history ,as Chamari Athapatgthu took 4 wickets with 1 run out in the 50th over to cap her historic first SL female cricketer to score 4000 ODI runs to ensure Sri Lanka win by 7 runs and to keep their hopes alive in World Cup 2025 , whilst Bangladesh sadly bowed out.
Just cannot understand how Bangladesh collapsed from 176 for 4 wickets in 45.1 overs, chasing a below par score of 203 , in fact, just needing 27 runs for victory , with 6 wickets in hand and ultimately lose by 7 runs.
Statistics does not predict but only proves that the tigers lost 5 wickets for 18 runs, with two batters, namely Skipper Sultana Jhoty batting on 74 and young sensation Shona Akhtar batting on 19 , whilst Sri Lankan spinners were struggling to get a grip off the not turning surface, with Bangladesh milking singles at will.
The turning point was the dismissal of Shona Akhtar with the score on 193 brilliantly caught by Wicket keeper Sanjeevani , down the leg side , off the bowling of left arm orthodox spinner Sugandika Kumari which was the turning point.
Bangladesh lost 5 wickets for 2 runs , which is very difficult to cope with that too in a World Cup game.
The tigers have been unlucky against England due to an umpiring error m, unlucky against South Africa, blame themselves for appaling ground fielding and catching, but to lose 5 wickets for 2 runs , and hive Chamarie Attapathu 4 wickets in her final over needing 10 runs , is a riplys believe it or not scenario period.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat on a red soil pitch and was not up to expectations, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Vishmy Gunaratne was LBW in the very first ball , off Marufa Akhtar, and the experts have found a technical error in her back lift , which she must address with her batting coach.
Chamarie Attapathu looked good for a big score of 46 runs in 43 deliveries with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes, but the legitimate leg spin of Rubaya Khan, who took 2 for 39 , had her plum in front.
Credit must go to Harshini Perrera, who took the responsibility and held the innings together top sciribg with 85 after her partnership of 72 with her captain. However, the run out of Harshitha Samarawickrema for just 4 runs looked an awful sight, an example of how not to take singles if you are ball watching.
I thought Kavisha Dilhari was unlucky, given out by the 3rd umpire because her foot was not grounded for a stumping, even the Bangladesh fielders were surprised at 3rd umpires decision like all of us.
With the score on 100 runs for 4 wickets , Harshini Perera and Nilukshi de Silva built a 74 run healthy partnership with both batters milking the singles , converting the lose deliveries to boundary hits. It was a time thar Sri Lanka looked set for a score of 250 plus and actually bat Bangladesh out of the game.
Sri Lanka reached 174 for 4 wickets in the 32nd over. Chamarie Athapaththu then sent a message showing a sign language to both batters , stay there, milk the singles, and guess open your shoulders in the 45th over.
But alas , Nilukshi de Silva lacked game awareness and went for an audacious stroke uncalled for lost her wicket caught at n of point for 37 , and the flood gates opened
Ideal breakthrough for Bangladesh because Sri Lanka does not bat deep. Sanjeevani, the wicket keeper, gave Shorna Akhtar her 2nd wicket . What a soft dismissal a no intent stroke of a 14 year old school boy.
Sugandika Kumari will not disturb the scorers even in a division B game , out LBW for 1 , and Sri Lanka looked down the barrel from 174 for 5 wickets to 181 for 7 wickets.
Hasini Perrera, I hope she learnt her lesson on how to handle pressure situations batting with tail enders. Her new partner was 40 years old, Prabodhini, who just could not get bat to ball period.
Harshini throws a golden opportunity of playing smart cricket , throwing her wicket batting on 85 , hence, Sri Lanka tail enders faced 13 overs after her dismissal and made 13 runs , giving Shona Akhtar her career best bowling figures of 10 overs 4 maidens 27 runs and 3 wickets.
A target of 203 was within Bangladesh reach. The batters could have played risk-free cricket, which they did. Suddenly, a brain break occurred. 5 wickets lost with just 2 runs.They have a weakness that has let them down against all teams in the competition.
1. The score at snail pace during the power play overs.
2. Their ground fielding and catching is the lowest out of all teams.
Bangladesh was in command and in total control ,
luntil Shemin Akther retired with a back injury after stiching a fantastic partnership with her captain Jhotty , 115 runs before retirement with an injury making 64 , but Jhoty the captain was in control with Shona Akhtar and the turning point occurred with Shona’s dismissal.
It still seems a mystery how Bangladesh lost this game, losing 5 wickets for 2 runs and giving Attapathu 4 wickets in her final over, which included a run out.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are still with an outside opportunity to reach the semi-final stage. Sadly, Bangladesh is the first team to bow out. They play India on Sunday, which will be a one-sided game as per the win predictor.
The game of the week will be on Thursday when when India plays New Zealand, in all fairness a quarter finals game.
Sri Lanka plays Pakistan on Friday, England, against Australia tomorrow. Both teams have qualified, hence less, it’s a pressure game.
Today It’s less pressure for the protease they play in Colombo against Pakistan, and the South Africans have already qualified, whilst Pakistan will look for a win to keep the wheels turning.
Guess the Sri Lanka Pakistan game on Friday will be another crunch game based on the India vs. New Zealand game and the outcome. India , New Zealand, and Sri Lanka have 4 points each so far.
Main scores
Sri Lanka 202 for all out in 48.4 overs.
Attapathu 46 , Harshini Perera 85 , Nilukshi de Silva 37.
Shona Akhtar 3 for 27
Rubaya Khan 2 for 39
Bangladesh 195 for 9
Nigura Sultana Jhoty 77
Shemin Akhtar 64
Shona Akhtar 19
Chamarie Attapathu 4 for 42, Sugandika Kumari 2 for 39.
