The Bangladesh women’s team, riding high on their historic breakthrough, is eyeing their first-ever bilateral series victory over Sri Lanka as they gear up to clash in the second match of the ongoing three-game WODI series at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium today.
In the series opener, the Tigresses secured their inaugural WODI win against Sri Lanka by conquering a late scare during the chase of 206 runs. Despite cruising at 199 for three, a sudden collapse saw them slip to 200 for seven before the lower-order batsmen maintained their composure to secure a nerve-wracking three-wicket triumph. This victory also put an end to their longstanding four-match winless streak against Sri Lanka in this format.
A victory in today’s match would not just clinch the series but also mark Bangladesh’s first-ever series conquest over Sri Lanka in all formats. So far, Bangladesh has only managed bilateral series victories against a few teams, notably Pakistan and Ireland.
The last bilateral series encounter between the two sides was in Sri Lanka in 2023, where the hosts emerged victorious in both formats, claiming the WODI series 1-0 and the WT20I series 2-1.
Ahead of the critical showdown, the Bangladesh team opted for a rest day, while Sri Lanka trained vigorously under intense heat with their full squad. Bangladesh officials confirmed that the players are in good shape despite the challenging weather conditions and are completely focused on clinching this historic series win.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be eagerly anticipating the return of their regular captain, Chamari Athapaththu, who missed the opening match due to an ongoing injury. Her absence was deeply felt in the initial game, and if she remains sidelined, it could further sway the momentum in Bangladesh’s favor as they strive for this significant milestone.