Women’s Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai Sri Lanka seal semi-final spot with thrilling win over Bangladesh

Player of the Match

Harshitha Samarawickrama

DUBAI: Sri Lanka edged past Bangladesh by four wickets with four balls to spare in a see-saw battle Women’s Asia Cup 2026 fixture played at Dubai’s International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The victory sealed Sri Lanka’s spot in the semi-final, extending their unbeaten run to three games.

Bangladesh managed just 114-8 in their innings batting first, but sparked a spirited fight back with the ball, reducing Sri Lanka to 44-5. Player of the Match Harshitha Samarawickrama hung on until the end to take them over the line, against a mounting run-rate and despite the lack of support.

Surrounded by nervy Bangladesh fielders, Samarawickrama hit the winning runs in the last over, staying unbeaten on 48 off 37 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes), the final run coming off a leg-bye amidst half-hearted lbw appeals.

At the end of 17 overs, Bangladesh seemed to have the upper hand, having reduced Sri Lanka to 86-6, with 29 runs still needed. Samarawickrama was 28 off 30 then, having seen off the last over of Marufa Akter’s superb spell of 3/21.

Two balls into the next over, she hit a four and clanked the first six off the match the very next ball, turning the game around. It eventually came down to 13 off 12, and to add to Bangladesh’s woes, a slow over-rate penalty was applied. For the last two overs, only three fielders were allowed outside the 25-yard circle.

Samarawickrama then slapped yet another six at the end of the 19th over, all but clinching the game with a cracking straight hit.

Earlier, 17-year-old Chamudi Prabodha broke the back of Bangladesh’s batting, with the rest of the bowling line-up rallying around her. Sobhana Mostary top-scored with 34 off 41 (4 fours) at No.3, after Dilara Akter gave them a positive start, but the middle-order stalled thereafter. Unable to break free against spin, they could only amble to 114-8. Bangladesh fought hard to defend it, but it wasn’t enough.

Bangladesh now face UAE in their final group-stage fixture, now set to be a virtual quarter-final.

Scores:

Bangladesh Women 114-8 (20) (Dilara Akter 26, Sobhana Mostary 34, Sugandika Kumari 2/22, Chamudi Praboda 3/21) lost to Sri Lanka Women 115-6 (19.2) (Harshitha Samarawickrama 48*, Nilakshika Silva 18, Maruf Akter 3/21)