Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round performance lifted Sri Lanka to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rajshahi on Wednesday, levelling the three-match Women’s ODI series 1-1.
Returning to the side after missing the series opener with a finger injury, the captain took 3 for 36 with the ball and struck 40 off 39 with eight fours as Sri Lanka chased down 166 in 45.5 overs.
Athapaththu removed Sarmin Sultana lbw in the 16th over, had Sobhana Mostary caught at square leg an over later and dismissed Ritu Moni via a sharp Nilakshika Silva catch at mid-off in the 31st over. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana top-scored with 58 off 101 balls but found little support and was bowled out for 165. Malki Madara, Nimesha Meepage and Inoka Ranaweera picked up two wickets apiece, with Kavisha Dilhari taking one.
Chasing, Sri Lanka lost early wickets before Athapaththu counter-attacked. She fell to left-armer Nahida Akter in the 17th over, with a tense stare-off as Nahida marked the dismissal. Harshitha Samarawickrema (50 off 76) and Hansima Karunaratne (40 off 64) then added 79 for the fourth wicket to take the visitors close to the target.
Nahida finished with four wickets, including the dismissals of both set batters and Kaushini Nuthyangana. Sultana Khatun and Ritu Moni took one each.
The third and deciding ODI will also be played in Rajshahi at the Shaheed Kamaruzzaman Stadium, which is hosting its first international series.
