Sri Lanka take early series lead after convincing win over Bangladesh in Women’s T20Is

Sri Lanka Women made a strong start to the three-match series with a convincing victory over Bangladesh Women in the first T20I, played on 28 April in Sylhet, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Opting to bat first, the Sri Lankan side delivered a solid all-round batting performance to post a competitive total of 161/4 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by consistent No. 3 batter Imesha Dulani, who continued her impressive form on the tour by registering her third half-century in Bangladesh, showing excellent control and temperament at the crease.

The standout performance, however, came from Harshitha Samarawickrama, who produced a blistering 61 off just 35 deliveries. Her aggressive knock, featuring five boundaries and two sixes, came at a striking rate of 174.28 and provided Sri Lanka with the late-innings acceleration needed to build a strong total.

In reply, Bangladesh Women were unable to maintain the required scoring rate and were restricted to 136/7 in their allotted overs. Despite a fighting effort from Shorna Akter, who scored a maiden T20I half-century, the hosts struggled to build partnerships throughout the chase.

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack maintained tight control from the outset, with captain Chamari Athapaththu leading the charge. Alongside her, Malki Madara and Mithali Ayodhya each claimed two wickets, applying consistent pressure and effectively dismantling Bangladesh’s batting lineup.

With this comprehensive performance in both batting and bowling departments, Sri Lanka Women take early control of the series as they head into the next encounter with confidence.