Sri Lanka defeats the Bangladeshi side to maintain their campaign breathing

ICC Women's World Cup, Mumbai

Sri Lanka 202 (48.4 overs): Hasini Perera 85 (99); Shorna Akter 3-27

The Bangladeshi team 195-9 (50 overs): Joty 77 (98); Chamari Athapaththu 4-42

The Lankan side win by seven runs

The Lankan cricket team claimed four crucial dismissals in the decisive innings segment to seal a thrilling triumph over their opponents and preserve their narrow aspirations of making it for the tournament knockout stage intact.

Needing a modest total of 203 on a batting-friendly pitch in Navi Mumbai, the Bangladeshi team needed nine more runs from the last six bowls.

Yet, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu secured three wickets in four bowls and de Silva dismissed via run-out Nahida to bring about a exciting success for Sri Lanka.

The victory – the Lankan team's initial of the competition after three defeats and two abandoned games against the Australian team and New Zealand – moves them equal on four points with the Indian team and the New Zealand side, who confront each other on Thursday.

Bangladesh, in contrast, endured a fifth consecutive loss since securing victory in their initial game against Pakistan and have been knocked out.

Even though Bangladesh made the ideal beginning, with Marufa Akter striking with the first delivery of the encounter to send back Vishmi Gunaratne, they were rightfully penalized for a subpar fielding effort.

They offered lifelines to Hasini Perera, who was missed multiple times, and the Lankan captain.

Although the Sri Lankan skipper failed to capitalise, removed lbw for 46 just one delivery after being missed by Rabeya Khan, Perera made Bangladesh suffer.

She achieved a first international 50-run score, accumulating 85 from 99 bowls and contributing to an crucial 74-run partnership fifth-wicket association with De Silva.

Bangladesh, spearheaded by Shorna's impressive bowling figures, pulled themselves back into the game, with Nilakshi's dismissal in the 34th over causing a Sri Lanka collapse from 174 with four wickets down to 202 all out.

During their chase, the Lankan team's initial pace attack Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani contained the opposition to 23-1 in a disappointing opening overs and they were subsequently reduced to 44-3.

Sharmin Akter and Joty rebuilt their batting effort, contributing an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand before Sharmin withdrew due to injury for a resolute 64 in the 36th over.

It was in favor of the chasing team approaching the remaining two overs, with only 12 runs necessary.

Nevertheless, Dasanayaka removed Ritu Moni and gave away just three scoring runs before the captain's decisive intervention, with Rabeya, Nahida Akter, captain Joty and Marufa Akter all dismissed as the Lankan team snatched the triumph at the death.

In the end, it was a game of composure. The seasoned Lankan captain, who ushered away a few of fellow players as she set herself to deliver the final over, maintained hers. Bangladesh failed to.

There will be many inquiries about Bangladesh's batting performance. They possibly have been needing around 270-280 with Sri Lanka seeming comfortable on 159 for four in the 30th innings segment, but rather the required total was significantly less.

However, the batting side showed little intent from the start, scoring at below 2.5 runs per over during the opening overs, experiencing a early batting collapse, and ultimately leaving themselves excessive to achieve.

But no matter what problems there are with their batting lineup, if they had seized their chances in the fielding area, that 203 total goal would have been significantly smaller.

It required them three tries to terminate the 72-run stand second-wicket, with keeper Nigar Sultana being unable to hold a tough catch while keeping to remove Perera on her score of 23 before the captain got a reprieve from a caught and bowled chance possibility against Rabeya.

Perera was dropped once more on her score of 55 and 63 runs, the final opportunity traveling directly to Rubya Haider Jhilik at cover position, before finally being dismissed leg before wicket by Shorna Akter as she attempted to increase the tempo with teammates being dismissed near her.

Subsequently in the innings, there was additionally a stumping chance missed and a failed run-out, while the second one was a slightly unfortunate, with Jhilik deputising with the wicketkeeping gloves due to an fitness issue to the regular keeper.

Sadly for Bangladesh, such fielding woes are not at all a single occurrence. They've missed 14 opportunities from a potential 27 at this tournament and display the poorest catch efficiency (less than 50%) of the eight teams.

They are a team who are overall heading in the correct path – they are participating in merely their second one-day World Cup ultimately – but substandard fielding is a prominent concern which demands attention.