Left arm fast bowler Udeshika Prabodhani missed a rare hat-trick in the very first over of the innings as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to a total of 111 for 8 in 20 overs in their opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup cricket championship at the Dambulla Stadium yesterday and won the match by seven wickets.
Prabodhani conceded a boundary in the first ball of the first over but came back strongly to dismiss Dilara Akter by clean bowling her in the third delivery followed by the wicket of Rubya Haider in the next ball.
Her hat-trick ball was negotiated by Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana who went on to top score with an unbeaten 48 with six fours in 59 balls.
Shorna Akter chipped in with 25 with five fours in just 14 balls and together with Sultana put on 31 runs for the seventh wicket to prevent a further collapse.
Prabodhani ended with 2 for 20 while Inoshi Fernando took 2 for 17 as the best bowlers for Sri Lanka on the day.
In pursuit of the target teenager Vishmi Gunaratne kept the Sri Lanka innings in progress and reached a half century blasting seven fours and a six before being bowled for 51 in 48 balls after her opening partner and captain Chamari Atapattu fell for 12 with the total at 32 in the fifth ball of the sixth over.
Harshitha Samarawickrema stayed on to hit 33.
Bangladesh Women 111 for 8 in 20 (Rabeya Khan 10, Shorna Akter 25, Nigar Sultana 48 not out, Udeshika Prabodhan 2 for 20, Inoshi Fernando 2 for 17)
Sri Lanka Women 114 for 3 in 17.1 overs (Chamari Atapattu 12, Vishmi Gunaratne 51, Harshitha Samarawickrema 33, Nahida Akter 3 for 12)
