Sharmin Akter Supta : Bangladesh Women kicked off their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka with a hard-fought three-wicket win at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium on Monday. Chasing 206, the hosts reached the target in 48.3 overs, securing a 1-0 lead in the series.
The match also made history as Rajshahi hosted its first-ever women’s international cricket game, which ended in a memorable result for the home side.
Early Wobbles in the Chase
The chase did not begin smoothly for Bangladesh. Both openers were sent back cheaply, with Juairiya Ferdaus scoring 5 and Sharmin Sultana departing for a duck. Early pressure built on the hosts as wickets fell quickly.
Supta Anchors the Innings
Sharmin Akter Supta then took charge of the innings with a calm and steady knock. She played a crucial innings of 86 off 127 balls, hitting 13 boundaries and holding the batting together when the team needed stability the most.
She was well supported by Sobhana Mostary, who added 41 runs before retiring hurt. Their 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket helped Bangladesh recover after the early setbacks and rebuild the chase.
Even after Mostary left the field, Supta continued to guide the innings with patience, ensuring Bangladesh stayed in control despite wickets falling around her.
Sri Lanka Post Competitive Total
Batting first, Sri Lanka managed 205 for 9 in their 50 overs. The innings was anchored by Imesha Dulani, who scored 52, and Hansima Karunaratne, who contributed 54. Kavisha Dilhari also added 30 valuable runs to push the total past 200.
Ritu Moni’s Bowling Sets the Tone
For Bangladesh, Ritu Moni stood out with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 36 runs. Her disciplined spell played a key role in restricting Sri Lanka to a chaseable score.
On the other side, Dewmi Vihanga led Sri Lanka’s bowling effort with figures of 3 for 43, but it was not enough to defend the total.–
Bangladesh Take Early Series Lead
With this win, Bangladesh have taken momentum in the series and will head into the next match with confidence, while Sri Lanka will look to bounce back in the upcoming games.