Dubai: A substandard performance saw Bangladesh women’s cricket team tasted a four-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in a crucial Women’s Asia Cup match on Sunday, leaving them facing a tough equation to reach the final. The defeat made it tougher for Bangladesh to top the group and could set a potential semi-final clash against India.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, in the last two editions, Bangladesh suffered defeat to India in the semi-final to be crashed out of the tournament. Batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh managed just 114 runs, setting Sri Lanka a modest target. Sri Lanka raced to the victory in 19.2 overs with Harshitha Samarawickrama leading the charge with an unbeaten 37 ball-48.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by pacer Marufa Akhter who claimed 3-21, produced a spirited fightback and at one stage looked to have the match firmly under control after reducing Sri Lanka to 44-5. But a missed catch in the 18th over proved costly as Sri Lanka regained control and eventually reached the target with four wickets in hand.
Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary admitted that the missed chance was a turning point. “Until the 18th over, the match was in our hands. We missed a catch at deep midwicket in that over. Had we taken it, perhaps we could have won the match,” she said after the game.
Mostary also admitted that Bangladesh’s batting effort had fallen short of expectations. “The score was not enough because our target was more than 140. We slowed down a little in the middle overs and could not make proper use of the final three or four overs,” she said.
The defeat leaves Bangladesh with little room for error, with their next match against UAE on Tuesday effectively a quarterfinal. A victory over their next opponents will secure their place in the semi-finals. “Our entire focus is now on the last match. We have to win this game, and only then will we have a chance to reach the semi-finals,” Mostary said.