In the second and penultimate Twenty20 international of the series, which took place on Thursday in Colombo, the Bangladesh women’s team was defeated by their counterparts from Sri Lanka by a convincing seven-wicket margin.
With nine deliveries to spare, Sri Lanka was able to chase down Bangladesh’s paltry score of 100.
Sent in to bat, the Tigresses made a decent start, having piled up fifty for one with a strike-rate of almost run-a-ball. However, as opener Shamima Sultana (18) was bowled by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, the momentum for the visitors began to shift in a negative direction.
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. At least one wicket was taken by each of the six bowlers that Sri Lanka used throughout the match.
In reply, Sri Lanka were not bothered as opener and skipper Chamari Athapaththu’s 33 and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 29 ensured a straightforward 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.