Chasing 206, Bangladesh were rocked early as they slipped to 5/2 inside two overs. However, Sharmin Akhter steadied the innings with a composed 86 off 127 balls, anchoring the chase with patience and control.
She found crucial support from Sobhana Mostary, who contributed a fluent 41 before retiring hurt, and Shorna Akter, whose 35 kept the momentum going in the middle overs.
Despite a late wobble that saw wickets fall in clusters around the 200-mark, Bangladesh crossed the finish line thanks to calm heads in the lower order, with extras—particularly 21 wides—also playing a significant role in easing the chase.
Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 205/9 after opting to bat. Hansima Karunaratne (54) and Imesha Dulani (52) struck half-centuries to lay the foundation, while contributions from Kavisha Dilhari (30) added valuable runs.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, however, ensured the visitors never ran away with the game. Ritu Moni led the charge with an impressive 3 for 36, while Nahida Akter picked up two wickets.
Tight spells from Marufa Akter and Rabeya Khan also helped restrict Sri Lanka to a manageable total.
In the end, Sharmin’s match-defining knock proved the difference as Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead in the series with a hard-fought win.
