Bangladesh’s batting woes continued in the Women’s World T20 tournament as they were blown away for 72 in pursuit of Sri Lanka’s 97-8 in 20 overs.
Team Sri Lanka
Shashikala Siriwardenetop scored in an ordinary Sri Lankan batting display with 31 and claimed 2-10 to help her team win their first match of the tournament.
Under clear skies at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, the Bangladesh women opted to bowl first desperately looking to overcome ,fellow Asian counter-parts, Sri Lanka. The ever-consistent Bangladesh star fast bowler Jahanara Alam drew first blood with the very first ball of the innings when she removed Sri Lankan opening batter Mendis for a golden duck. Bangladesh bowlers continue to maintain a consistent line and length conceding 23 runs in the power play. After the mandatory six overs, Bangladesh bowlers made inroads into the Sri Lankan batting order, picking up wickets in the eighth, ninth and thirteenth overs. Fahima Khatun bagged the prize wicket of Sri Lankan Captain Chamari Athapaththu for 12. Shashikala Siriwardene was the only batter to contribute significantly with a 33-ball 31 with two fours and one maximum off leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed in the 19th over. Jahanara Alam was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with 3-21 in her four overs. Tul Kubra, Ahmed and Fahima Khatun picked up one wicket each to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par 97-7 in 20 overs.
The target of 98 seemed out of Bangladesh’s reach with opening batter Islam out for the golden duck when she was trapped in front by the Sri Lankan left-arm quickie, Udeshika Prabodhani. Bangladesh’s nightmare first over continued with Fargana Hoque out leg before for a duck to the same Sri Lankan bowler. Ayasha Rahman and Sultana started to rebuild, but wickets continued to tumble regularly. The Bangladesh batters continued to struggle as the Sri Lankan bowlers believed that bowling dot balls would build pressure and the wickets would follow. At the half-way stage of the Bangladesh innings, they were reeling at 28-4, requiring another 70 with six wickets in hand. The game was evenly poised at that stage, but wickets tumbled throughout the innings.
The Sri Lanka Captain was the best Sri Lankan bowler with 3-17 while Siriwardene continued to have a brilliant game as she returned with the ball claiming 2-10 in four overs. The Bangladesh team have not recovered since the battering they received from Deandra Dottin and her West Indies teammates in their first match at Providence. (Brandon Corlette)
