Oshadi Ranasinghe’s four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick was the highlight of Sri Lanka Women’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh Women in the second warm up match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Thursday (March 10).

Ranasinghe dismissed Jahanara Alam, Panna Ghosh and Khadija Tul Kubra in consecutive deliveries of the 20th over to help dismiss Bangladesh for 95, before Shashikala Siriwadene wrapped up the chase with 1.5 overs to spare.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh got off to the worst possible start when Eshani Lokusuriyage and Udeshika Prabondhani combined to reduce them to 16 for 4 in the fourth over.

Rumana Ahmed and Nigar Sultana tried to resurrect Bangladesh’s innings with a 40-run partnership, but they fought a lone battle. The 58-ball stand was broken by Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka Women captain, when she dismissed Rumana for 20. Sultana soon followed when she was run-out for 33.

Sultana’s wicket brought about the second collapse of the innings as Bangladesh lost its last four wickets for 21 runs—all four wickets falling to Ranasinghe. The first to go was Fahima Khatun, stumped for 5 by Dilani Manodara; followed by the wickets of Alam, who was also stumped, Ghosh and Kubra, both comprehensively bowled.

Ranasinghe finished with figures of 4-14 off 2.5 overs, while Lokusuriyage also picked up two wickets.

Chasing 96 was never going to be too difficult for Sri Lanka with the firepower of Chamari Atapattu, Yasoda Mendis and Dilani Manodara in the line-up, but Bangladesh seemed determined to make their mark on the match. They were loud and energetic on the field appealing vociferously on more occasions than not.

The appealing finally paid off when Atapattu was caught plumb in front of her stumps off the bowling of Salma Khatun, the offspinner, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 18 for one.

Manodara and Mendis put Sri Lanka back on track with a lively 31-run partnership. The former preferring the sweep shot to find the fence.

The introduction of Rumana Ahmed, the leg-spinner, turned things in Bangladesh’s favour. First Manodara was stumped for 17, and soon after, Mendis was trapped in front of her stumps by a ball that didn’t turn and skidded straight on. 54 for 3 soon became 57 for 4 when Ranasinghe was run-out by Ayasha Rahman, and Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother.

Shashikala Siriwardene, however, kept her cool to wrap up the chase in the company of Lokusuriyage who smashed a six to give Sri Lanka a five-wicket victory. Siriwardene was unbeaten on 22 off 28 deliveries.

Rumana Ahmed finished with impressive figures of 3 for 9 off 4 overs.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh Women 95 in 19.5 overs (Rumana Ahmed 20, Nigar Sultana 33; Eshani Lokusuriyage 2-17, Oshadi Ranasinghe 4-14) lost to Sri Lanka Women (Yasoda Mendis 20, Shashikala Siriwardene 22*; Rumana Ahmed 3-9) by five wickets.

(Sri Lanka Cricket)