Top 3 reasons why Bangladesh-W lost to Sri Lanka-W in the Women's World Cup 2025 match 21

Sri Lanka Women won their maiden match of the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup with a seven-run victory over Bangladesh Women during Match 21 at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Full of drama, the match saw captain Chamari Athapaththu take charge from the front with both her bat and ball, steering her team to the narrow victory. The game became a nail-biting finish as Bangladesh, though dominant for the better part of the chase, spectacularly collapsed in the last overs.

Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka lost opener Vishmi Gunaratne on the very first ball to Marufa Akter, putting pressure on their innings early on. Chamari Athapaththu (46 from 43) and Hasini Perera (85), however, rescued the innings with a 72-run partnership, which was pivotal in placing the innings in good stead. Together, they provided a strong platform to Sri Lanka, but once they were dismissed, the middle order was unable to keep the momentum going. The team, which had been cruising at 155-4, were bowled out for 202 off 48.4 overs eventually. Shorna Akter was the star for Bangladesh with 3-27, while Rabeya Khan and Marufa Akter got important wickets.

In reply, Bangladesh's chase began on a poor note as they stumbled to 44-3 in 16 overs. But skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (77 off 98) and Sharmin Akhter (53) stemmed the flow and pulled the innings back with patience and discipline. Their stand placed Bangladesh in a commanding position at 176-3 with only 27 runs from the last 30 balls required for victory. But Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Chamari Athapaththu, again flip the match dramatically towards the end to record a thrilling victory. Below are the top reasons for the Bangladesh Women defeat:

1. Collapse of Batting in the End

Bangladesh was sailing toward victory before collapsing to five wickets in eight balls. They went from 176-3 to 195-9, unable to cope with increasing pressure. The batters lost focus in the final moments of the inning which allowed Sri Lanka to reinforce their position in the game. The collapse was ultimately the biggest reason Bangladesh lost in a heartbreaking defeat.

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2. Poor Start to the Top Order

Bangladesh's top order struggled to create momentum at the start of the innings, with Rubya Haider going for a duck and Sobhana Mostary just adding eight runs. After 24 runs during the Powerplay, Bangladesh were quickly put on the back foot. With a lack of early partnerships, there was a lot of work for the middle order to do.

3. Nigar Sultana's Injury Issues

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty's hamstring pull was a huge setback for Bangladesh. While she could manage only a gritty knock of 77, her restricted movement spoiled her run and shot choice towards the last overs. Her wicket was at a timing when Sri Lanka could capitalize on it, and once she was dismissed, Bangladesh's chase lost direction, handing Sri Lanka a deserving win.