A stunning final over performance by captain Chamari Athapaththu steered Sri Lanka to a dramatic seven-run victory against Bangladesh, eliminating the latter from the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. The intense contest unfolded at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Bangladesh needed a mere eight runs to win from the final six balls, but Athapaththu delivered a bowling masterclass. She ripped through the lower order, taking three wickets in the initial four deliveries, effectively crushing Bangladesh’s chase and halting them at 195/9 while defending 203.
The backbone of Bangladesh’s chase was a resilient partnership between Nigar Sultana Joty, who scored 77, and Sharmin Akter, who contributed an unbeaten 64. Their efforts, however, were not enough to overcome the late-innings collapse orchestrated by Sri Lanka’s bowlers.
Athapaththu’s match-winning spell of 4/42 earned her the title of the highest wicket-taker for the game. Key contributions also came from Sugandika Kumari, who took 2/29, and Udeshika Prabodhani, with 1/29, providing crucial support throughout the innings.
The win significantly boosts Sri Lanka’s chances of advancing to the semi-finals, marking a disappointing end to Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign after their fifth loss of the tournament.