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Bangladesh women’s team suffered a convincing seven-wicket defeat against their Sri Lankan counterparts in the second and penultimate T20I of the series in Colombo on Thursday.
Sri Lanka chased down Bangladesh’s meagre 100 with nine deliveries to spare.
Sent in to bat, the Tigresses made a decent start, having piled up fifty for one with an strike-rate of almost run-a-ball. However, the momentum slumped for the visitors once opener Shamima Sultana (18) was bowled by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera.
Bangladesh kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and, at 70 for three inside the 14th over, the biggest blow arrived with the dismissal of skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (7), who had combined with Ritu Moni to seal a thrilling run-chase in the series opener on Tuesday.
Bangladesh were looking to up the ante when middle-order batter Murshida Khatun (14) hit the only six of the innings but they lost the last six wickets in a span of 15 runs and were bundled out for 100 in 18.3 overs. All six of the Sri Lanka bowlers managed to bag at least one wicket.
In reply, Sri Lanka were not troubled as opener and captain Chamari Athapaththu’s 33 and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 29 ensured a comfortable run-chase for the hosts. Leg-spinner Fahima Khatun scalped two wickets for 16 runs in full quota of four overs.
The two sides next clash on Friday to play the series decider.
