Sri Lanka qualify for semi-finals unbeaten
ThePapareNews article
Sri Lanka Women won their third and final first-round match of the 2026 Women's T20 Asia Cup. They retained their unbeaten record and qualified for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka Women recorded a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the match played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the previous day (6).
Nigar's Bangladesh brigade takes on Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's captain won the toss and invited Bangladesh to bat first. Bangladesh made 114 for eight before Sri Lanka reached the target for the loss of six wickets with four balls to spare.
Sri Lanka brought Vishmi Gunaratne into the side for her first appearance of the tournament, replacing Kavya Kavindi.
Bangladesh made two changes for this match. They handed 17-year-old Farjana Easmin her T20I debut and also brought in Sultana Khatun.
Rabeya Khan and Sanjida Akter Meghla, who played in the previous match, were rested.
Sri Lanka Women's team
Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda and Chethana Vimukthi.
Bangladesh Women's team
Nigar Sultana (captain and wicketkeeper), Juairiya Ferdous, Dilara Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Farjana Easmin and Sultana Khatun
Bangladesh's top-order batters gave their innings a solid start after being sent in to bat. Sobhana Mostary top-scored, making 34 off 31 balls with four fours before she was dismissed as the fourth wicket.
By then, she had added 41 runs from 40 balls for that wicket with Shorna Akter (9).
Openers Dilara Akter made 26 off 26 balls with four fours, while Juairiya Ferdous scored 14 off 10 balls with three fours.
Fahima Khatun, who came in through the middle order, also scored 14 off 13 balls with two fours, while every other batter was restricted to single figures.
Chamudi Praboda returned the best bowling figures of the innings with three wickets for 21 runs. Sugandika Kumari claimed two for 22, while Kavisha Dilhari and Chamari Athapaththu took one wicket each.
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As usual, Imesha Dulani and Chamari Athapaththu opened Sri Lanka's innings, but they were unable to provide a strong start. Athapaththu was dismissed from the final ball of the first over, with Sri Lanka on seven and the captain having scored only one run.
Sri Lanka added another 14 runs after her dismissal before Imesha Dulani fell as the second wicket. She had made 12 off 11 balls with two fours.
Sanjana Kavindi then fell for nine off 14 balls with one four, while Vishmi Gunaratne was dismissed for nine off 16 balls, leaving Sri Lanka's innings in a precarious position.
The situation worsened when Kavisha Dilhari (3) was dismissed during the 10th over. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva then combined for the sixth wicket to rescue Sri Lanka.
The pair added 38 runs from 41 balls for the wicket, shifting control of the contest from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka. The partnership ended when Silva was dismissed for 18 off 23 balls with one four.
When victory was sealed, Harshitha Samarawickrama was unbeaten on 48 off 37 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Kaushini Nuthyangana was 11 not out off nine balls.
They had added an unbroken 33 runs from 18 balls for the seventh wicket.
Right-arm opening medium-pacer Marufa Akter claimed three wickets for 21 runs, while Sultana Khatun and Ritu Moni took one wicket each.
Brief scores
Bangladesh Women's cricket team – 114 for 8 (20.0) Dilara Akter 26, Sobhana Mostary 34, Sugandika Kumari 2/22, Chamudi Praboda 3/21
Sri Lanka Women's cricket team – 115 for 6 (19.2) Harshitha Samarawickrama 48 not out, Nilakshika Silva 18, Marufa Akter 3/21
Sri Lanka Women's cricket team won by four wickets.
Player of the Match – Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka)
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Based on ThePapare reporting