The Lankan team overcomes Bangladesh to preserve their World Cup campaign alive

ICC Women's World Cup, Mumbai

The Lankan team 202 (48.4 overs): Perera 85 (99); Shorna 3-27

Bangladesh 195-9 (50 overs): Nigar Sultana Joty 77 (98); Athapaththu 4-42

The Lankan side emerge victorious by seven runs

Sri Lanka claimed four wickets in the final innings segment to seal a nail-biting victory over Bangladesh and keep their narrow aspirations of making it for the tournament knockout stage ongoing.

Pursuing a below-par total of 203 on a favorable wicket in the Mumbai stadium, the Bangladeshi team wanted nine more runs from the remaining six deliveries.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu claimed three wickets in four deliveries and Nilakshi de Silva dismissed via run-out Nahida Akter to achieve a dramatic victory for Sri Lanka.

The win – Sri Lanka's first of the tournament after three defeats and two washed-out matches against Australia and New Zealand – elevates them tied on four points with India and the New Zealand side, who face each other on the coming Thursday.

The Bangladeshi team, in contrast, suffered a fifth successive setback since securing victory in their initial game against the Pakistani team and have been knocked out.

While Bangladesh got off to the perfect start, with Marufa Akter striking with the first delivery of the game to send back Gunaratne, they were rightfully penalized for a disappointing fielding performance.

They gifted second chances to Perera, who was missed three times, and the Lankan captain.

While Athapaththu could not take advantage, sent back lbw for 46 just one delivery after being dropped by Rabeya, Hasini Perera made Bangladesh suffer.

She registered a debut international half-century, making 85 from 99 balls and contributing to an significant 74-run partnership fifth-wicket collaboration with Nilakshi de Silva.

Bangladesh, spearheaded by Shorna Akter's 3-27, dragged themselves back into the contest, with De Silva's dismissal in the 34th bowling segment initiating a Lankan collapse from 174-4 to 202 all out.

In reply, Sri Lanka's opening bowlers Malki Madara and Prabodhani contained Bangladesh to 23 for one in a uninspiring opening overs and they were later brought down to 44 for three.

Sharmin Akter and Joty rebuilt their score, putting on an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Sharmin retired hurt for a resolute 64 in the 36th innings segment.

It was advantage Bangladesh approaching the remaining two bowling phases, with only 12 additional runs necessary.

Yet, Sugandika Dasanayaka removed Ritu Moni and conceded only three runs before Athapaththu's dramatic spell, with Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, skipper Joty and Marufa Akter all sent back as Sri Lanka grabbed the victory at the final moment.

Ultimately, it was a game of nerve. The seasoned Lankan captain, who moved aside a several of teammates as she got ready to bowl the decisive over, maintained her nerve. The opposition did not.

There will be numerous inquiries about Bangladesh's batting performance. They could easily have been needing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team appearing at ease on 159 for four in the 30th over, but in contrast the required total was considerably smaller.

Yet, the batting side lacked intent from the start, accumulating runs at below 2.5 runs per over during the opening overs, undergoing a initial wicket loss, and eventually forcing themselves excessive to accomplish.

But whatever difficulties there are with their batting approach, if they had seized their catches in the fielding department, that 203-run target goal would have been considerably smaller.

It required them three attempts to end the 72-run second-wicket association, with wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana not managing to take a challenging catch behind the stumps to remove Hasini Perera on her score of 23 before the captain got a reprieve from a caught and bowled chance opportunity against Rabeya.

The batter was spilled once more on 55 runs and her score of 63, the final opportunity flying right to Jhilik at cover field, before finally being dismissed lbw by Shorna as she tried to up the ante with teammates being dismissed near her.

Later in the game, there was furthermore a stumping chance missed and a missed run-out, while the latter was a little unfortunate, with Rubya Haider substituting with the gloves due to an injury to Joty.

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, such fielding problems are nowhere near a single occurrence. They've missed 14 chances from a possible 27 at this World Cup and boast the poorest catch efficiency (48.1%) of the eight teams.

They are a side who are typically heading in the right direction – they are playing in only their second ODI World Cup ultimately – but substandard fielding standards is a glaring concern which requires focus.