Heartbreak for Bangladesh Women’s as Sri Lanka Seal Dramatic Win in World Cup 2025

Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team endured yet another heartbreak in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. In a game that could have easily gone their way, Bangladesh fell short by just a seven runs against Sri Lanka at the DY Patil Stadium, which ended their slim hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals. The loss marked their fifth straight loss in the tournament — each one a painful reminder of how close they have come to greatness.

A Match That Could Have Been Theirs

The emotions were raw and visible at the post-match press conference. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana sat with a blank expression. Barely an hour earlier, she was leading a composed chase of 203, anchoring the innings with precision. With 25 runs required from 24 balls, and Ritu Moni at the other end, the Bangladesh Women’s seemed within touching distance of victory.

At the DY Patil Stadium, Diwali fireworks painted the night sky, matching the tension on the field. Bangladesh had been here before — against England and South Africa — and both times, victory slipped through their fingers. This time, it felt different. This time, it felt destined.

Nigar’s Redemption Innings

There had been murmurs about Nigar’s form coming into the game — just 71 runs in her last five innings. But when her team needed her most, she delivered. Coming in at 24 for 2 in the 11th over, Nigar absorbed the pressure and anchored the innings like a true leader. Her fourth-wicket partnership of 82 with Sharmin Akhter gave Bangladesh belief.

Sharmin, battling cramps in the punishing Mumbai heat, retired hurt on 64, leaving Nigar to shoulder the responsibility alone. “Me and Supta [Sharmin] were discussing how if we could play till the 35th or 40th over, we could finish the game five overs early,” Nigar said after the match. “But once she had to go out, the momentum shifted.”

Still, Nigar pressed on. Her 77 off 98 balls was an innings of calm, control, and courage. With Bangladesh needing 21 off 18 balls, she appeared in total command. But sport, as it often does, turned cruel.

The Collapse Begins

Inoka Ranaweera’s disciplined 47th over yielded just four singles, pushing the required rate higher. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, ever the fighter, brought herself back into the attack. She sensed that removing Nigar would turn the match.

The second ball of the 48th over was wide and full — a deliberate ploy to deny Nigar her favored sweep. The Bangladeshi captain adjusted brilliantly, lofting the ball over mid-off for a boundary. The chase was alive again. With quick singles, the equation came down to 12 off 12.

But Athapaththu’s next move changed everything. Bringing back left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari, she struck gold as Ritu Moni was bowled trying to break the shackles. Nigar was left stranded at the non-striker’s end, watching the pressure mount once more.

By the time the final over arrived, Bangladesh needed nine runs. The equation was tough but not impossible — as long as Nigar was on strike. Fate, however, had other plans.

The Final Over Heartbreak

Athapaththu, confident and determined, decided to bowl the last over herself. Her plan was simple: attack the stumps and keep Nigar from finding the boundary. The first ball trapped Rabeya Khan LBW — reviewed in vain. The next delivery resulted in a run-out, with Nahida Akter falling short after a sharp throw from Nilakshika Silva.

Nigar was finally back on strike, but the pressure was immense. She attempted to clear the infield but found Silva again at long-off. The catch wasn’t clean, but it was enough. Nigar’s brilliant 77-run innings ended, and so did Bangladesh’s hopes.

“I think we need to think about it and learn so many things — how to calm our nerves and get runs in these moments,” Nigar said afterward. Her words carried both pain and maturity — the mark of a leader growing stronger through defeat.

A Familiar Pattern of Missed Chances

For the Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team, this was the third time in the World Cup that they lost a winnable match. Earlier close encounters against England and South Africa followed a similar script — disciplined bowling, courageous batting, but heartbreak at the finish.

These repeated near-misses highlight both their growth and their unfinished journey. The team has come far from being considered underdogs; they now push established sides to the brink. Yet, the inability to finish games remains their Achilles’ heel.

Sri Lanka Hold Their Nerve

While Bangladesh were left shattered, Sri Lanka celebrated one of their most remarkable turnarounds. Chamari Athapaththu, who scored a vital 46 and took key wickets, later admitted that dismissing Nigar was the turning point. “If Joty [Nigar] had played some more balls, the game would not go our way,” she said. “We executed our plans perfectly in the last overs.”

Sri Lanka’s heroics were built around Hasini Perera’s brilliant 85 off 99 — her maiden ODI fifty — and disciplined bowling at the death. But even Athapaththu conceded her team’s batting flaws, saying, “We didn’t continue our momentum. We have to adapt better.”

End of the Road for Bangladesh

The defeat confirmed Bangladesh’s exit from the World Cup, securing just one win in six matches, making them the first team to be knocked out of the tournament. For Nigar and her team, the realization was heartbreaking.

Yet, there was pride too — pride in their fight, in the improvement shown, and in the knowledge that they are no longer an afterthought in women’s cricket.

The Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team has consistently shown that they can compete with the best. From pushing world champions England to the brink to nearly toppling South Africa and Sri Lanka, their performance has won admiration globally.

Learning, Growing, and Looking Ahead

Nigar’s message after the match was clear: “We came here to win. We’ve played three close games and we need to learn how to handle these situations better.” Her focus was not on excuses but on evolution — on turning heartbreak into experience.

For a young team, these experiences will shape their future. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s continued investment in women’s cricket, coupled with leadership from players like Nigar, will be crucial in bridging the fine gap between competing and winning.

Tigress will face mighty India in their last match on October 26.