Sri Lanka overcomes the Bangladeshi side to preserve their campaign ongoing

ICC Women's World Cup, Navi Mumbai

Sri Lanka 202 (48.4 overs): Hasini Perera 85 (99); Shorna Akter 3-27

Bangladesh 195-9 (50 overs): Nigar Sultana Joty 77 (98); Athapaththu 4-42

Sri Lanka emerge victorious by seven runs

The Lankan cricket team claimed four crucial dismissals in the last over to seal a nail-biting win over their opponents and maintain their faint hopes of qualifying for the tournament knockout stage alive.

Needing a below-par score of 203 on a favorable wicket in Navi Mumbai, Bangladesh wanted nine runs from the last six balls.

Yet, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu secured three crucial wickets in four balls and de Silva ran out Nahida to achieve a thrilling victory for the Lankan team.

The victory – the Lankan team's first of the tournament after three unsuccessful matches and two no-results against the Australian team and New Zealand – moves them equal on four match points with the Indian team and New Zealand, who confront each other on Thursday.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, experienced a fifth successive defeat since winning their tournament opener against Pakistan and have been removed from contention.

While Bangladesh got off to the excellent commencement, with Marufa striking with the opening bowl of the encounter to dismiss Gunaratne, they were deservedly punished for a subpar fielding performance.

They gifted second chances to Perera, who was spilled three times, and Athapaththu.

Even though the Sri Lankan skipper was unable to make it count, removed lbw for 46 just one delivery after being put down by Rabeya, Hasini Perera forced Bangladesh suffer.

She registered a maiden international half-century, making 85 from 99 deliveries and sharing an important 74-run partnership fifth-wicket with De Silva.

The Bangladeshi team, spearheaded by Shorna Akter's 3-27, fought themselves back into the game, with De Silva's wicket in the 34th over triggering a Lankan collapse from 174 with four wickets down to 202 all out.

During their chase, the Lankan team's initial pace attack Malki Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani contained the opposition to 23 for one in a disappointing powerplay and they were subsequently reduced to 44 for three.

Sharmin and Nigar Sultana Joty rebuilt their score, contributing an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand before Sharmin withdrew due to injury for a stubborn 64 in the 36th over.

It was leaning toward the chasing team heading into the remaining two bowling phases, with only 12 additional runs needed.

Yet, Dasanayaka sent back Ritu and allowed merely three scoring runs before Athapaththu's dramatic spell, with Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, captain Joty and Marufa all sent back as the Lankan team seized the victory at the death.

Ultimately, it was a contest of nerve. The highly experienced Lankan captain, who ushered away a several of fellow players as she got ready to bowl the final over, kept hers. Bangladesh failed to.

There will be plenty of doubts about the team's batting display. They possibly have been chasing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team seeming comfortable on 159 for four in the 30th innings segment, but rather the target was significantly less.

Yet, the batting side lacked aggression from the very beginning, making runs at under 2.5 runs each over during the powerplay, undergoing a top-order collapse, and ultimately forcing themselves too much to achieve.

But no matter what difficulties there are with their batting lineup, if they had accepted their opportunities in the fielding area, that 203 total target would have been considerably lower.

It took them three attempts to terminate the 72-run second-wicket, with keeper Nigar Sultana being unable to grab a difficult opportunity while keeping to remove Perera on 23 before the captain was spared from a caught and bowled possibility against Rabeya.

The batter was dropped once more on 55 and 63, the final opportunity flying right to Jhilik at cover position, before finally being dismissed lbw by Shorna Akter as she attempted to increase the tempo with partners getting out near her.

Afterwards in the innings, there was also a missed stumping and a failed run-out, while the second one was a somewhat regrettable, with Jhilik deputising with the keeping duties due to an physical problem to Joty.

Sadly for the team, such fielding woes are not at all a isolated incident. They've dropped 14 opportunities from a available 27 opportunities at this tournament and display the poorest catching success rate (48.1%) of the eight teams.

They are a side who are generally moving in the proper way – they are playing in only their second ODI World Cup ultimately – but inadequate fielding is a prominent issue which requires focus.