Bangladesh Edge Sri Lanka by One Run in Thriller

News Desk 

Colombo: Bangladesh women’s cricket team edged Sri Lanka by just one run in a nail-biting ICC Women’s World Cup warm-up clash in Colombo on Saturday.

Chasing 243, Sri Lanka looked on course at 218 for 5 after 46 overs, needing only 25 runs from 24 balls. But a dramatic collapse, sparked by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter, turned the game on its head.

Nahida removed Piumi Wathsala and Anushka Sanjeewani in the 47th over, before dismissing top-scorer Nilakshika Silva (75 off 78) in the 49th.

With nine runs required off the final over, pacer Marufa Akter held her nerve, conceding only seven and helping Bangladesh snatch victory as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, including a run out.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted 242 for 8, built around Sharmin Akhter’s composed 71 and her 90-run stand with Rubya Haider. Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari (3-40) led the bowling effort, dismissing both set batters, while Dewmi Vihanga and Malki Madara chipped in with two wickets each.

In reply, Sri Lanka suffered an early wobble, slipping from 56 for 1 to 86 for 4, before Dilhari (63) and Nilakshika revived the chase with solid half-centuries. Dilhari’s innings ended bizarrely when her bat slipped from her hands and dislodged the stumps after a midwicket shot.

Despite the late fight, Bangladesh’s bowlers held firm in the closing overs to secure a morale-boosting warm-up win ahead of the tournament.