Bangladesh Women won the first T20 against Sri Lanka Women by 6 wickets in a pulsating finish with a ball to spare upped by skipper Nigar Sultana’s 75 off 51 balls at the SSC to go 1-up in the 3-match series. Sri Lanka Women, battting first on the luck of the toss, posted 145 for 6 off 20 on a run a ball 45 by Harshitha Samarawickrama inclusive of 5 boundaries, but the Bangladeshi skipper took the game away from the Sri Lankans by her cameo knock containing 7 boundaries and 2 sixes.

At one stage, Sri Lanka Women were on top having reduced Bangladesh Women to 2 for 23, but before the advent of Niger Sultana swung it their way. She repaired the innings edging 51 off 39 with Sobhana Mostary who made 17 and went on to carry it from there in adding a further 72 off 52 together with Ritu Mori 33 off 23 inclusive of 4 boundaries before the letter was run out with just one run away from victory. Sultana made no mistake stroking a single in the penultimate ball.

Sri Lanka Women lost their way from 107 for 3 after 15.3 overs losing two wickets in successive deliveries slipping to 114 for 4 and 114 for 5 after 16.5 overs. It negated the second wicket partnership of 48 off 37 between skipper Chamari Athapaththu who struck 33 off 28 and Harshitha Samarawickrama.

The Lankan skipper’s innings contained 3 sixes and 2 boundaries. Nilakshi de Silva was unbeaten on a run a ball 33 with 4 boundaries, but the Lankan lasses had lost a trick or two as the Bangladeshis ran out the eventual winners.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka Women 145/6 (20 Overs)

(Harshitha Samarawickrama 45, Chamari Athapaththu’s 38, Nilakshi de Silva n.o. 29, Oshadi Ranasinghe n.o. 8, Fahima Khatun 2/20, Rabaya Khan 1/23, Fartha Trisna 1/35, Nahida Akter 1/35)

Bangladesh Women 146/5 (19.5 Overs)

(Nigar Sultana n.o. 75!, Ritu Moni 33, Sobhana Mostary 17, Udeshika Prabhodini 1/7, Kawya  Oshadi Ranasinghe  1/31, Kawya Kavindi 1/14)