Sri Lanka overcomes the Bangladeshi side to keep their World Cup tournament hopes breathing

ICC Women's World Cup, 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 decisive over to seal a heart-stopping triumph over Bangladesh and preserve their narrow hopes of making it for the tournament knockout stage ongoing.

Needing a below-par target of 203 on a good batting surface in Navi Mumbai, Bangladesh wanted nine additional runs from the final six deliveries.

Nevertheless, Lankan skipper Athapaththu took three important dismissals in four deliveries and Nilakshi de Silva ran out Nahida Akter to bring about a exciting victory for the Lankan team.

The triumph – the Lankan team's maiden of the tournament after three losses and two washed-out matches against Australia and the Kiwi side – elevates them level on four points with the Indian team and New Zealand, who meet each other on the coming Thursday.

The Bangladeshi team, however, endured a fifth consecutive defeat since securing victory in their initial game against Pakistan and have been knocked out.

Even though Bangladesh got off to the excellent commencement, with Marufa Akter striking with the opening bowl of the match to remove Vishmi Gunaratne, they were deservedly made to pay for a poor fielding effort.

They provided reprieves to Hasini Perera, who was spilled multiple times, and Athapaththu.

Even though Athapaththu was unable to capitalise, sent back lbw for 46 one ball after being missed by Rabeya Khan, Hasini Perera made the opposition pay.

She registered a maiden international half-century, making 85 from 99 balls and sharing an important 74-run stand fifth-wicket with De Silva.

Bangladesh, led by Shorna Akter's 3-27, pulled themselves back in the match, with Nilakshi's dismissal in the 34th bowling segment initiating a Lankan downfall from 174 for four to 202 total.

During their chase, Sri Lanka's starting bowlers Malki Madara and Prabodhani limited the opposition to 23 for one in a disappointing opening overs and they were subsequently diminished to 44-3.

Sharmin Akter and Joty restored their batting effort, contributing 82 for the fourth wicket before the batter withdrew due to injury for a determined 64 in the 36th bowling phase.

It was in favor of Bangladesh heading into the final two bowling phases, with merely 12 more runs needed.

However, Sugandika Dasanayaka dismissed Ritu and allowed only three runs before Athapaththu's chaos, with Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, captain Joty and Marufa all sent back as the Lankan team grabbed the win at the final moment.

Ultimately, it was a contest of nerves. The very experienced Lankan captain, who moved aside a handful of teammates as she got ready to deliver the decisive over, held her composure. Bangladesh failed to.

There will be plenty of doubts about the team's batting display. They could easily have been chasing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team appearing comfortable on 159 with four wickets down in the 30th bowling phase, but rather the target was significantly less.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh displayed insufficient aggression from the start, accumulating runs at below 2.5 runs per over during the initial phase, experiencing a initial wicket loss, and ultimately leaving themselves too much to do.

But no matter what difficulties there are with their batting approach, if they had taken their opportunities in the fielding area, that 203-run target objective would have been considerably less.

It required them three attempts to end the 72-run partnership second-wicket collaboration, with wicketkeeper Joty failing to hold a tough chance as wicketkeeper to remove Hasini Perera on her score of 23 before Athapaththu got a reprieve from a caught and bowled chance opportunity against Rabeya Khan.

The batter was spilled again on 55 and 63 runs, the final opportunity traveling directly to Jhilik at cover position, before eventually being dismissed leg before wicket by Shorna as she tried to increase the tempo with partners being dismissed near her.

Later in the batting effort, there was furthermore a stumping chance missed and a run-out opportunity lost, while the run-out chance was a somewhat unfortunate, with Jhilik substituting with the gloves due to an injury to Joty.

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, such fielding problems are far from a single occurrence. They've missed 14 opportunities from a possible 27 opportunities at this World Cup and display the lowest catch efficiency (48.1%) of the participating teams.

They are a side who are overall moving in the proper way – they are playing in merely their second ODI World Cup ultimately – but substandard fielding standards is a glaring concern which needs improvement.