Sri Lanka opener Hasini Perera fell agonisingly five runs short of her maiden international century, but her innings of 95 proved more than enough to seal a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh women and clinch the series in Rajshahi.
Chamari Athapaththu’s side won the three-match series 2-1, having recovered from losing the opening match to take the final two. It was also the first bilateral ODI series ever played between the two nations.
Bangladesh, who won the toss and chose to bat, posted 213 for eight at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium, the highest total of the series. Sri Lanka overhauled the target in 46.3 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Sobhana Mostary was the cornerstone of the Bangladesh innings, top-scoring with 74 off 80 balls and striking eight fours. After the hosts slipped to 69 for three, she and captain Nigar Sultana steadied the innings with a 65-run partnership. Nigar contributed 40 off 90 balls before departing, and only Ritu Moni, who struck a brisk 20 off 16 balls, offered Sobhana any further company. Sobhana herself was the last to go, dismissed off the final delivery of the innings.
Sri Lanka’s chase began shakily when Athapaththu was caught behind for 10, driving loosely at pacer Marufa Akter. But Hasini anchored the reply, first adding 108 with Imesha Dulani, who made a career-best 56 off 79 balls before falling to Marufa, and then putting on a further 78 with Harshitha Samarawickrama. With her century in sight, Hasini miscued a drive off Sobhana’s bowling and was taken by substitute fielder Rabeya Khan at mid-off. The dismissal did nothing to alter the outcome.
The two sides now meet in a three-match T20I series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, with games on 28 April, 30 April and 2 May.
