The Lankan team defeats the Bangladeshi side to maintain their campaign breathing

ICC Women's World Cup, Navi Mumbai

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

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

Sri Lanka emerge victorious by seven runs

The Lankan cricket team secured four wickets in the final innings segment to seal a thrilling triumph over their opponents and preserve their narrow hopes of qualifying for the tournament knockout stage ongoing.

Chasing a modest score of 203 on a batting-friendly pitch in Navi Mumbai, the Bangladeshi team required nine additional runs from the remaining six balls.

Yet, Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu secured three crucial wickets in four deliveries and de Silva dismissed via run-out Nahida Akter to bring about a thrilling success for the Lankan team.

The victory – the Lankan team's first of the World Cup after three losses and two no-results against Australia and the Kiwi side – elevates them tied on four tournament points with the Indian team and New Zealand, who meet each other on Thursday.

Bangladesh, however, suffered a fifth straight setback since securing victory in their first match against Pakistan and have been removed from contention.

Even though the Bangladeshi side got off to the excellent commencement, with Marufa striking with the initial ball of the match to send back Vishmi Gunaratne, they were deservedly penalized for a disappointing fielding display.

They provided reprieves to Perera, who was dropped three times, and the Lankan captain.

While the Sri Lankan skipper could not capitalise, removed lbw for 46 one ball after being put down by Rabeya, Perera made the opposition regret it.

She achieved a first international 50-run score, making 85 from 99 bowls and contributing to an important 74-run partnership fifth-wicket with Nilakshi de Silva.

The Bangladeshi team, guided by Shorna Akter's 3-27, dragged themselves back to the contest, with De Silva's wicket in the 34th innings segment initiating a Sri Lanka downfall from 174 for four to 202 total.

While batting second, Sri Lanka's starting bowlers Madara and Udeshika Prabodhani limited Bangladesh to 23 for one in a uninspiring initial phase and they were later diminished to 44-3.

Sharmin Akter and Joty restored their batting effort, contributing an 82-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the batter retired hurt for a stubborn 64 in the 36th innings segment.

It was leaning toward the chasing team entering the final two bowling phases, with only 12 additional runs necessary.

Nevertheless, Dasanayaka sent back Ritu and allowed only three scoring runs before the captain's decisive intervention, with Rabeya, Nahida Akter, captain Joty and Marufa Akter all sent back as the Lankan team grabbed the win at the very end.

Ultimately, it was a match of composure. The highly experienced Athapaththu, who ushered away a several of fellow players as she got ready to bowl the final over, maintained her composure. Bangladesh did not.

There will be numerous inquiries about Bangladesh's batting effort. They could easily have been chasing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team looking at ease on 159 with four wickets down in the 30th bowling phase, but in contrast the target was considerably smaller.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh lacked intent from the very beginning, scoring at below 2.5 runs each over during the initial phase, suffering a top-order collapse, and eventually making themselves excessive to do.

But whatever difficulties there are with their batting lineup, if they had accepted their opportunities in the fielding area, that 203 total objective would have been substantially lower.

It took them three attempts to terminate the 72-run stand second-wicket association, with wicketkeeper Joty not managing to grab a tough opportunity as wicketkeeper to send back Hasini Perera on her score of 23 before Athapaththu survived from a return catch opportunity against Rabeya Khan.

Perera was spilled further on her score of 55 and her score of 63, the final opportunity traveling directly to Rubya Haider Jhilik at cover, before finally being trapped lbw by Shorna as she sought to accelerate the scoring with batting partners being dismissed beside her.

Subsequently in the innings, there was furthermore a stumping chance missed and a failed run-out, even though the latter was a slightly regrettable, with Jhilik deputising with the keeping duties due to an fitness issue to Joty.

Regrettably for the team, such fielding problems are nowhere near a one-off. They've dropped 14 opportunities from a possible 27 at this World Cup and boast the poorest catching success rate (48.1%) of the competing sides.

They are a team who are generally progressing in the correct path – they are participating in merely their second ODI World Cup after all – but inadequate fielding standards is a obvious concern which requires focus.