Hasini Perera’s composed 95 seals series for Sri Lanka as hosts fall short in Rajshahi

Sri Lanka Women sealed a comprehensive 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh Women with a composed seven-wicket triumph in the decisive third ODI at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Saturday, 25 April 2026. Chasing a modest target of 214, the visitors reached 214 for 3 in 46.3 overs, finishing with 21 balls to spare and leaving the home side to reflect on another missed opportunity on home soil.

The match had all the ingredients of a classic series decider. Bangladesh, buoyed by their hard-fought win in the opening game, won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that offered something for both batters and bowlers early on. What followed was a determined but ultimately incomplete batting effort that set Sri Lanka a target well within reach on a surface that flattened out as the day progressed.

Bangladesh’s innings began cautiously. Openers Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Sultana negotiated the new ball with care, but the early pressure from Sri Lanka’s pace attack soon told. Hoque fell for 11, bowled by the experienced Chamari Athapaththu, and Sultana was run out for 17 after a mix-up that left the hosts at 34 for 2 inside the tenth over. Sharmin Akhter provided some resistance with a fluent 25, striking three boundaries, yet she too departed when Nimasha Meepage found her edge, leaving Bangladesh at 69 for 3.

Captain Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary then set about rebuilding. Their partnership was the backbone of the Bangladesh total. Nigar played the anchor role, consuming 90 deliveries for her 40 runs, while Mostary took the more aggressive approach. Mostary’s 74 off 80 balls, laced with eight fours, was the standout performance of the innings. She rotated the strike cleverly and punished anything loose, particularly through the covers and midwicket. The pair added 65 runs for the fourth wicket and appeared set to push Bangladesh past the 230 mark.

Sri Lanka’s spinners, however, refused to let the game drift. Kavisha Dilhari, the off-spinner who has grown into one of the most reliable performers in the side, broke the stand by dismissing Nigar, caught by Hansima Karunaratne for 40. From there the middle order struggled to find momentum. Shorna Akter managed only 3, Fahima Khatun 7, and although Ritu Moni injected some late urgency with a brisk 20 off 16 balls, the innings never quite exploded. Mostary continued to fight until the final over, only to be caught by Harshitha Samarawickrama off Malki Madara for 74. Bangladesh closed on 213 for 8 from their full 50 overs.

Dilhari finished with the best figures of 3 for 48 from her ten overs, while Meepage claimed 2 for 40. Athapaththu contributed a tidy 1 for 35, and the Sri Lankan fielding remained sharp throughout, restricting the hosts to a total that looked under-par once the dew began to settle in the evening session.

The chase began with a jolt for Sri Lanka. Marufa Akter, Bangladesh’s young pace spearhead, removed the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu for 10 in the fifth over, the captain edging behind to Nigar Sultana. At 19 for 1, the visitors needed composure. They found it in the form of Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani.

Perera, who had been consistent without being spectacular earlier in the series, produced the innings of her career. She batted for more than two and a half hours, facing 131 deliveries and striking 13 clean boundaries. Her timing was exquisite, particularly when she used her feet to the spinners and drove through the off side. Dulani, the series’ leading run-scorer with 116 runs overall, played the perfect supporting role. The pair added 108 runs for the second wicket, steadily dismantling the Bangladesh bowling attack and taking the required rate down to comfortable levels.

Dulani’s 56 off 79 balls included seven fours and was built on solid defence and intelligent placement. She eventually fell to a return catch by Marufa Akter, but by then the score had reached 127 and the required runs were fewer than 90 with plenty of overs remaining. Harshitha Samarawickrama then joined Perera and the two continued the steady accumulation. Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 44 off 51 balls, featuring eight boundaries, was full of positive intent. She struck the ball cleanly and rotated the strike effectively, allowing Perera to play her natural game.

Perera’s long vigil finally ended on 95 when she was caught by substitute fielder Rabeya Khan off the part-time bowling of Sobhana Mostary with only nine runs still needed. The crowd, which had remained hopeful while Perera was at the crease, sensed the inevitable. Hansima Karunaratne walked out and saw her side home with a couple of calm singles, finishing unbeaten on 2 alongside Samarawickrama’s 44 not out.

The victory was completed with 21 balls remaining and seven wickets in hand, a margin that underlined Sri Lanka’s superiority on the day. Marufa Akter was the only Bangladesh bowler to take more than one wicket, finishing with 2 for 49. The rest of the attack, including Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun and Ritu Moni, struggled to create sustained pressure once the early wicket of Athapaththu was taken.

Hasini Perera was named Player of the Match for her near-century that guided the chase so expertly. Imesha Dulani received the Player of the Series award for her consistent batting contributions across the three matches. Sri Lanka’s series triumph by 2-1 marked another successful away campaign and strengthened their position in the ICC Women’s Championship.

For Bangladesh the result was a bitter one. Having taken the lead with a narrow three-wicket win in the first ODI, they had high hopes of securing their first series victory against Sri Lanka. The second match had slipped away when Sri Lanka chased down 166 with relative ease, and the third followed a familiar pattern of promising batting collapses and an inability to defend moderate totals. Captain Nigar Sultana acknowledged afterwards that her side had left too many runs out on the pitch and that the middle order needed to convert starts into substantial scores more consistently.

The pitch at Rajshahi had offered early movement but became true and slightly two-paced as the day wore on. Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl first after losing the toss proved wise, and their disciplined bowling in the middle overs prevented Bangladesh from accelerating. In the chase the visitors showed excellent temperament, never allowing the required rate to climb above five runs an over after the first ten.

This series formed part of the larger 2025-2029 ICC Women’s Championship cycle, and the two points Sri Lanka earned from the final match will be valuable as they push for qualification for the next World Cup. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly ahead of their next assignments, knowing that individual performances such as Mostary’s 74 and Marufa’s continued growth with the new ball provide foundations to build upon.

The Rajshahi crowd, though disappointed by the result, appreciated the quality of cricket on display. Perera’s patient, high-quality innings in particular drew warm applause even from the home supporters as she approached her hundred. Her eventual dismissal on 95 was met with a mixture of relief and regret, for it had been the kind of knock that wins matches and series.

Sri Lanka’s bowling unit also deserves credit. Dilhari’s three wickets broke key partnerships, while Meepage’s control at the death prevented any late flourish from the Bangladesh lower order. The fielding was energetic throughout, with several diving stops and accurate throws that kept the pressure on.

Looking back on the three-match contest, Sri Lanka’s ability to recover from the opening defeat stood out. They adapted better to the conditions, rotated their bowlers more effectively, and produced the big performances when it mattered most. Dulani’s consistency with the bat and Athapaththu’s leadership, even when her own form was modest, provided the backbone of the campaign.

For the players themselves the victory will feel particularly sweet. Many in the Sri Lankan squad had spoken before the series about the challenge of winning away from home in subcontinental conditions. To do so with a seven-wicket margin in the decider will boost confidence ahead of tougher challenges later in the year.

Bangladesh, for their part, can take pride in the competitive nature of the series. The first-match victory remains a landmark result, and the fight shown by Mostary and Nigar in the final game demonstrated the character within the group. The challenge now is to turn competitive performances into consistent series wins.

As the players shook hands and the Sri Lankan squad celebrated in the middle, the scoreboard told the simple story: Bangladesh Women 213 for 8, Sri Lanka Women 214 for 3. A comprehensive win for the visitors, a series secured, and another chapter written in the growing rivalry between these two sides.

The final word belonged to Perera, who spoke modestly after receiving her award. She credited the coaching staff for the preparation and her teammates for the support at the other end. In truth, it was her own application and technique that made the difference. On a day when Sri Lanka needed a senior player to stand up, Hasini Perera delivered a performance of genuine quality that will be remembered long after the details of the scorecard fade.

Sri Lanka Women had come to Bangladesh seeking a series win. On a warm Saturday afternoon in Rajshahi they achieved exactly that, and they did so in style.