Dhaka, 3 June, Abnews: Bangladesh women’s cricket team started their campaign in the six-nation ACC Women’s Asia Cup T20I with a six-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka at Royal Selangor Club in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Sri Lanka chased down a target of 64 for 4 in 14.3 overs after restricting Bangladesh on 63 for all in 19.3 overs.
Ayasha Rahman (11 off 27b) top-scored for Bangladesh while Rumana Ahmed and Nigar Sultana added 10 runs each for the side who batted first.
Player of the match left-handed spinner Sugandika Kumari (3/17 off quota 4 overs) was the most wicket taker for Sri Lanka while Udeshika Prabodhani (2/6), Oshadi Ranasinghe (2/10) and Inoka Ranaweera (2/15) equally shared six wickets to squeeze Salma Khatun’s garrison.
Lankan skipper Shashikala Siriwardene (1/10) was another wicket taker.
On their target chase, Lankan innings spurred with the opening stand of 39 off 8.3 overs between Yasoda Mendis and left-handed Nipuni Hansika.
Nipuni Hansika (23 off 31b; 1x4) and Yasoda Mendis (20 off 28b; 2x4) were the double digit scorers with collecting more than the two-third of their target.
Spinner Khadija Tul Kubra got three wickets for 13 runs for Bangladesh.
In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will face Pakistan, India, Thailand and host Malaysia on June 4, 6, 7 and 9 respectively. The event will be ended on June 10.
However, India women (169/3 in 20 overs) got a 142-run victory against host Malaysia women (27/10 in 13.4 overs) in the tournament opener at Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur also on the day where opener Mithali Raj (97* off 69b; 13x4; 1x6) played a stunning unbeaten innings to be adjudged player of the match. – UNB
ABN/Adrian/Jasim/AD