84/6 (9.0)
CR : 9.33
87/6 (9.0)
CR : 9.67
Sri Lanka Women won by 3 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Chamari Athapaththu
2/1541(27)
SL-W won by 3 runs
5:09 PM IST, 5:39 PM Local Time | Sri Lanka Women complete a whitewash in this 3-match T20I series as they defeat Bangladesh Women by 3 runs in the final encounter! Bangladesh Women came so close to winning, but in the end, Chamari Athapaththu was the difference for her team.
A rain-curtailed start to the game saw the final T20I reduced to a 9-over affair.
Bangladesh Women won the toss and elected to bowl first! Sri Lanka Women came out all guns blazing with a strong opening partnership, but the Bangladeshi spinners, led by Sultana Khatun's 3/8 from 2 overs, put the brakes on. However, Chamari Athapaththu's 41 runs off 27 balls, and a late charge from Kavisha Dilhari's 15 runs off 7 balls, meant Sri Lanka Women ended their innings on 87/6 after 9 overs.
A rain-curtailed start to the game saw the final T20I reduced to a 9-over affair.
Bangladesh Women won the toss and elected to bowl first! Sri Lanka Women came out all guns blazing with a strong opening partnership, but the Bangladeshi spinners, led by Sultana Khatun's 3/8 from 2 overs, put the brakes on. However, Chamari Athapaththu's 41 runs off 27 balls, and a late charge from Kavisha Dilhari's 15 runs off 7 balls, meant Sri Lanka Women ended their innings on 87/6 after 9 overs.
Come the chase, Bangladesh Women were on course with a good start from the first over, but the Sri Lankan skipper broke the opening partnership, dismissing Dilara Akter for 9 runs. A strong second-wicket partnership ensued for Bangladesh, as Ferdous and Mostary added 30 runs before Ferdous fell to Madushani after scoring 15 runs off 11 balls.
Mostary looked dangerous in the middle, but Bandara came up trumps for Sri Lanka Women as she held her nerve after a six and four wides, to remove Mostary from the crease, with her score at 21 runs off 15 balls. With 24 needed off the final 2 balls, Sugandika Kumari produced a double wicket penultimate over, dismissing Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni.
Chamari Athapaththu picked up her second scalp off the first ball in the final over, when the opposition skipper holed out for 13 runs off 9 balls. Bangladesh Women, however, did not go down without a fight, Khatun scored a crucial boundary off the 4th ball to bring Bangladesh Women to within 6 runs of victory, but the Lankan skipper's quality proved too much, as Sri Lanka Women claimed the victory by 3 balls.
Chamari Athapaththu ended up with 2/15 from her 2 overs. Sugandika Kumari picked up 2/22, as Nimasha Madushani and Mithali Bandara chipped in with a wicket each to round up a good bowling effort.
Bangladesh Women can be proud of their performance today, and will take a lot of learnings from this series into their future games.
Chamari Athapaththu ended up with 2/15 from her 2 overs. Sugandika Kumari picked up 2/22, as Nimasha Madushani and Mithali Bandara chipped in with a wicket each to round up a good bowling effort.
Bangladesh Women can be proud of their performance today, and will take a lot of learnings from this series into their future games.
Time for the post-series presentation ceremony.
Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh Women Captain): "[Did she think of playing a Super Over?] I think so. Because when Sultana was batting and hit a boundary, we thought we might get a Super Over if she hit a boundary.
[On them losing the momentum after the powerplay while batting] It's been our concern for the last few months. We have good powerplays but fail to carry the momentum forward.
[Improvements shown by them in the series] We were doing good in the last two games. It's important how we get on from here. It was our best possible to check our bench strength. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to grab the World Cup spot.
[On her knock] It was needed back then. I was trying my best to get my side across the line. There were lots of positives that we will carry forward."
[On them losing the momentum after the powerplay while batting] It's been our concern for the last few months. We have good powerplays but fail to carry the momentum forward.
[Improvements shown by them in the series] We were doing good in the last two games. It's important how we get on from here. It was our best possible to check our bench strength. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to grab the World Cup spot.
[On her knock] It was needed back then. I was trying my best to get my side across the line. There were lots of positives that we will carry forward."
Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu
Player of the Series: Chamari Athapaththu
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Women Captain & POTM & POTS): [On her contributions with the ball] "No secret, I just try to play my game and stick to our plans. It's about bowling at the stumps. I analyze batters before the game to identify their weaknesses and execute my plans.
[On conditions and batting strategy] I would like to thank the ground staff for preparing the wicket for us to play the game. The conditions were a bit tricky, but as a professional team, we need to play our best game. We made a few changes, gave Dulani the chance to open, and she played well. At the end of the day, we can plan, but execution is the most important thing. We won because we played a good game.
[On the upcoming World Cup] Every game is important for us. We played well in the last 3 games, but it does not mean we can beat anyone. We need to improve our fielding, bowling, and also fitness is no. 1. Thank you to the support staff, S&C, they have done well, and I am grateful to have them."
[On conditions and batting strategy] I would like to thank the ground staff for preparing the wicket for us to play the game. The conditions were a bit tricky, but as a professional team, we need to play our best game. We made a few changes, gave Dulani the chance to open, and she played well. At the end of the day, we can plan, but execution is the most important thing. We won because we played a good game.
[On the upcoming World Cup] Every game is important for us. We played well in the last 3 games, but it does not mean we can beat anyone. We need to improve our fielding, bowling, and also fitness is no. 1. Thank you to the support staff, S&C, they have done well, and I am grateful to have them."
Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu receives the winners' trophy. She joins her teammates as they pose for the photographs. Sri Lanka Women are the deserving winners of this T20I series.
That wraps
up our coverage. It was pleasure bringing you all the updates from this
limited-overs series between Bangladesh Women and Sri Lanka Women. The cricketing
action doesn’t stop though. Keep tuning in for more action all around the
globe.
For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Anirudh Modi and scorer Raju Khariya. Until next time, cheers and good bye.
For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Anirudh Modi and scorer Raju Khariya. Until next time, cheers and good bye.