Sri Lanka Stun Bangladesh with Final Over Collapse to Win by 7 Runs

NAVI MUMBAI, India – Sri Lanka pulled off a sensational, seven-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Cup, taking an astonishing four wickets in the final four balls to secure a win that keeps their slim semi-final hopes alive.

Chasing a modest target of 203, Bangladesh appeared to have the match in hand, needing just nine runs from the last over with two wickets remaining. However, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu delivered an incredible finish, taking wickets on the first, third, and fourth balls, sandwiched by a run-out on the second delivery, to secure the nail-biting win.

The victory was Sri Lanka’s first in the tournament and moved them level on four points with India and New Zealand. Bangladesh, now eliminated after a fifth straight defeat, will rue their poor fielding performance, which proved costly.

Sri Lanka’s innings was built around a maiden international half-century from Hasini Perera, who scored 85 runs off 99 balls. Perera was gifted several lifelines, dropped three times by the Bangladesh fielders. Skipper Athapaththu also benefited from a dropped catch but was eventually dismissed for 46.

Despite a mid-innings collapse that saw Sri Lanka fall from 174-4 to 202 all out—thanks largely to Shorna Akter’s 3-27—the total proved just enough.

In reply, Bangladesh’s chase started slowly, restricting them to 44-3 early on. Sharmin Akter (64, retired hurt) and captain Nigar Sultana Joty (77 off 98) rebuilt the innings with an 82-run partnership, putting Bangladesh in a commanding position needing only 12 runs from the last two overs.

However, the late wickets started falling when Sugandika Dasanayaka removed Ritu Moni. It was Athapaththu’s decisive final over, however, that sealed the dramatic finish. Captain Joty was among the final four wickets to fall in the chaos.

Ultimately, the match came down to nerves, with the experienced Athapaththu holding hers while Bangladesh’s composure vanished. Beyond the final over, a lack of intent in the powerplay and a glaring problem with fielding were highlighted as key factors in the loss.

Bangladesh’s fielding unit has struggled throughout the tournament, dropping 14 out of 27 possible catches and boasting the lowest catch efficiency (48.1%) of the eight teams. Costly misses on key batter Hasini Perera proved to be the difference, allowing her to anchor the innings that set up the winning total.