🏏ICC Women's World Cup 2025: South Africa Women vs Pak Women, M.22🏏 - Page 29

India was in a very comfortable position. Once Smriti’s wicket fell, things started slowing down. We lost by just 4 runs. That’s gotta hurt!

I hope we beat NZ on 23rd.

The other teams are losing crucial points due to whitewash in SL. Might prove to be too costly for NZ. Bodes well for us though

Details for today's match--

Sri Lanka Women vs Bangladesh Women, 21st Match

Series: ICC Womens World Cup 2025

Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

Date & Time: Oct 20, 03:00 PM LOCAL

🏏Sri Lanka W vs Bangladesh W Match 21🏏

England's tight win over India in Indore has now turned the semifinal race into a five-way battle for the final spot. Given their net run rate, Sri Lanka's chances are still bleak and it is quite incredible they are still in contention, having not won a single game so far, partly thanks to the weather at home in Colombo. However, a statement win over Bangladesh will boost their confidence ahead of their final league fixture back at home against Pakistan.

For Bangladesh, their chances are slightly better than Sri Lanka's at the moment. It's quite a memorable campaign for them, having kickstarted it with a win over Pakistan. They also caused a flutter against England and South Africa, almost pulling off two shockers. That hammering at the hands of Australia in their last game shouldn't undo all the confidence they gained up until then.

Bangladesh will also be up against history in this fixture, having never beaten Sri Lanka in an ODI. If they do manage to tick that box, it could set up a very intriguing final league stage fixture for them against hosts India with the winner potentially going through. While tomorrow's loser is certain to go out, Sri Lanka in particular will be pleased at least with the prospect of playing out a full game, with the skies in Mumbai expected to stay clear.

When: Monday, October 20 at 3 PM local time

Where: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

What to expect: For the first time, there will be an ODI match played at this venue. The last time this stadium hosted an international fixture, India Women piled on the runs in a T20I in December 2024 against West Indies.

Team news

Sri Lanka: It will be interesting to see if Sri Lanka bring back veteran Udeshika Prabodhani for this contest.

Probable XI: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera

Bangladesh: Marufa Akter could make an immediate return to the playing XI after missing the Australia clash.

Probable XI: Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider(w), Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana(c), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter Nishi, Marufa Akter

What they said

"You can blame the weather but I don't like to give an excuse as of what we cannot control be in control of. So, as you would know there are good periods of ours, especially that New Zealand game. We saw some good batting in it and we like to put it into put it together and hopefully get it right in tomorrow's game." - Sri Lanka coach Rumesh Ratnayake on his side's campaign.

Right! We have entered the knockout territory now. While the winner can live to fight for another day, the loser will stand eliminated from the next stage of the tournament. Hello and a warm welcome to game 21. It's Sri Lanka v Bangladesh. On paper, Sri Lanka might look like a stronger unit but it is worth remembering that Bangladesh won a thriller against them in the warm-up games. Add to that, Bangladesh's impressive run against top sides gives them plenty of optimism for this contest. Can they finally get that elusive win after 4 successive defeats? As for Sri Lanka, they are yet to taste a win thanks to some bad weather for major part of their home campaign. The best part, however, is that the weather looks super for cricket today and both teams will be raring to give it all in a virtual knockout clash. Toss and team news imminent, stick around...

Sri Lanka Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

Nigar Sultana: Our bowlers have been doing well consistently, hoping to restrict them to a total that we can chase. We have good spinners and we just want to give our 100 percent. We have 2 changes. Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter are back in the side.

Chamari Athapaththu: We willl bat first, surface looks good for batting. After 3-4 games, feel good because we see sunshine finally, hopefully we can play some good cricket today. We have to execute our plans. We have one change. Udeshika Prabodhani comes in for Piumi Wathsala.

Teams:

Bangladesh Women (Playing XI): Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter Nishi, Marufa Akter

Sri Lanka Women (Playing XI): Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani(w), Udeshika Prabodhani, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera

Qualification scenario for the last spot.

India Women

Fixtures remaining: vs NZ-W, vs BAN-W

India's campaign has taken a hit with three straight defeats, but they still have their fate in their own hands. Wins in both their remaining games will take them through. If they beat New Zealand in their next game, they'd almost certainly make it. Even if they go down to Bangladesh then, they just need to ensure that they stay ahead of them on net-run rate, should they too, finish on six points. India hold an advantage on that front, their net run-rate of +0.526 being well ahead of Bangladesh's -0.676 currently.

If they lose to New Zealand but beat Bangladesh in their last league game, they'd make it if England beat the White Ferns before that. That'd be on virtue of more wins, making net run-rate immaterial.

New Zealand Women

Fixtures remaining: vs IND-W, vs ENG-W

New Zealand would've been frustrated of being deprived of a crucial point on Saturday, but they've benefited from England's win over India, making their next contest against the co-hosts a virtual knockout. Wins in both their games would seal their spot. A defeat to India will put an end to their campaign, while they can still make it if they beat India but lose to England in their final league fixture.

In the latter scenario, they would first want Sri Lanka to beat Bangladesh, and then the latter to beat India. There can be a scenario wherein the winner of Match 25 between Sri Lanka and Pakistan finish on six points, tied with New Zealand with as many with two wins each. Even then, New Zealand would hold a firm advantage on the net run-rate, as things stand currently.

Bangladesh Women, Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women

Fixtures remaining for BAN-W: vs SL-W, vs IND-W

SL-W: vs BAN-W, vs PAK-W

PAK-W: vs SA-W, vs SL-W

All three teams are in a must-win territory. For starters, the loser of Match 21 between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be knocked out right away. Bangladesh's best chance is to win their remaining two games, and hope for New Zealand to beat India but lose to England. They'll be tied at six points with New Zealand then, but will make it on virtue of three wins to White Ferns' two.

If India beat New Zealand, they'd need to beat the former (and Sri Lanka before that) by a fair margin to stay ahead on net run-rate. They take on India in the last league fixture, and would know exactly what's needed if it gets there.

As for Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who are yet to play each other, even if one of them finishes at six points, they'd need each of the other three teams to finish with no more than two wins. A win for India against New Zealand would knock these two out regardless of what happens before that or thereafter, as even if one of them finishes at six points, they'd only have two wins compared to India's three.

* All calculations are made assuming no more washouts in the coming week

End of over 5

11 runs

SL-W: 27/1

CRR: 5.40

Hasini Perera

9 (14b 2x4)

Chamari Athapaththu

16 (15b 2x4 1x6)

Marufa Akter

3-0-20-1

Nishita Akter Nishi

2-0-6-0