Sri Lanka Women edged past Bangladesh Women by four wickets in the 10th match of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai. After being invited to bat first, Bangladesh Women managed only 114/8 in 20 overs after coming under constant pressure from Sri Lanka's bowlers. Hewa Munasinghalage Chamudi Praboda (3/21 in 4 overs) was the standout performer with the ball. In reply, Sri Lanka Women chased down the target with four balls to spare. They lost several top-order batters during the powerplay and slipped to five wickets down by the 10th over. For much of the innings, they were behind the required run rate. However, Samarawickrama remained composed during the difficult middle overs. She absorbed the pressure before launching a late attack to take Sri Lanka over the line. With this win, Sri Lanka confirmed their place in the semi-finals.

Chamudi Praboda Destroys Bangladesh Batting

Seventeen-year-old left-arm spinner Chamudi Praboda played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to a modest total. The match was only the sixth international appearance of her young career. She had made her international debut against Pakistan in a three-match T20I series last month. Her three wickets against Bangladesh doubled her international wicket tally.

Bangladesh were attempting to rebuild after Juairiya Ferdous was dismissed in the fifth over. Praboda immediately put them under further pressure when she struck in her first over, the seventh of the innings. She dismissed Dilara Akter just two deliveries after the batter had hit her for a boundary. Dilara eventually scored 26 from 26 balls after adapting to the slow pitch.

Dilara had initially shown strong attacking intent. In the third over, she hit Sri Lanka pacer Chethana Vimukthi for three consecutive boundaries. However, Sri Lanka's spinners gradually took control. Praboda and her fellow spinners bowled tight lines and used changes of pace and flight effectively. Bangladesh struggled to find scoring opportunities and eventually finished on 114 for 8.

Praboda Ends Bangladesh's Hopes of a Big Total

Bangladesh appeared to be building towards a competitive score when Sobhana Mostary and Shorna Akter put together a steady 41-run partnership. Mostary scored 34 from 41 balls, while Shorna contributed nine from 14 deliveries. Their partnership continued into the final overs, giving Bangladesh hopes of pushing their total much higher.

Praboda, however, ended those hopes in spectacular fashion. She removed both batters within three deliveries in her final over. The spinner first used flight to deceive Mostary, who was stumped. She then tossed the ball up again and forced Shorna to chip it back towards her, completing another wicket. Praboda finished with impressive figures of 3 for 21, establishing herself as one of Sri Lanka's biggest positives from the match.

Chamari Athapaththu Has Unfortunate Match

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu had an eventful day but could not make a major impact. Nilakshi Silva and Chethana Vimukthi both dropped relatively straightforward chances off Athapaththu's bowling. Silva put down a chance offered by Mostary in the 14th over.

Athapaththu eventually took a wicket in her final over. However, she missed the opportunity to claim another dismissal when umpire Humaira Farah rejected a caught-behind appeal off the final delivery of her spell. Athapaththu's poor luck continued when Sri Lanka began their chase.

Her innings lasted only two balls. She advanced down the pitch against Marufa Akter and attempted to hit the ball over the bowler's head. Instead, she found Fahima Khatun at first slip, who held onto a sharp catch. It was an unusual dismissal for Athapaththu, who is normally highly effective when she charges at bowlers and attacks them over the top.

Marufa Akter Gives Bangladesh Hope

Bangladesh needed early wickets to turn Sri Lanka's chase into a competitive contest. With Sri Lanka requiring less than a run per ball at the start, the target initially looked straightforward.

Marufa Akter gave Bangladesh exactly the start they needed. She dismissed both Sri Lankan openers during an excellent opening spell. Athapaththu was caught at first slip from the final ball of Marufa's first over.

The Bangladesh seamer then produced an excellent delivery in her next over to dismiss Imesha Dulani. The ball moved through the gap between bat and pad before crashing into the stumps. Marufa completed the powerplay with figures of 2 for 17 from three overs, putting Bangladesh firmly back in contention.

Sri Lanka Lose Five Wickets for 44 Runs

Sri Lanka's middle order then came under significant pressure. Sanjana Kavindi was bowled by Sultana Khatun from the final delivery of the powerplay. Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets and were reduced to 44 for 5 in the 10th over. At that stage, Bangladesh had a genuine chance of causing an upset.

Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva responded with a crucial 38-run partnership. Their stand stabilised the innings and brought Sri Lanka back into the chase. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana needed another breakthrough and turned to her most effective bowler once again.

She brought Marufa back for the 17th over, and the seamer delivered. Marufa bowled Silva and conceded only four runs from the over, giving Bangladesh renewed hope. The performance also gave Marufa career-best T20I figures of 3 for 21. It was the fourth time in her 48-match T20I career that she had taken three wickets in a T20I innings.

Harshitha Samarawickrama Finishes the Chase

Samarawickrama ultimately proved to be the difference between the two teams. Ritu Moni had bowled three excellent overs and kept Sri Lanka under pressure. However, Samarawickrama changed the match dramatically by scoring 16 runs from Moni's final over. The over began with an element of luck. Samarawickrama backed away to create room on the off side, but the ball caught the inside edge and raced towards the fine-leg boundary.

She followed that with a powerful sweep that sent the next delivery into the advertising cushion at midwicket for six. Samarawickrama then advanced down the pitch against Nahida Akter and launched the ball high over the bowler's head for another six. The explosive sequence reduced Sri Lanka's requirement to just two runs from the final over.

Sri Lanka completed the victory on the second ball of the last over. The winning delivery brushed the wicketkeeper's pad before trickling past her, allowing Sri Lanka to secure a four-wicket win. Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 48 from 37 balls, finishing the job under pressure and sending the defending champions into the semi-finals.

Brief Scorecard