The Lankan team beats the Bangladeshi side to keep their World Cup campaign breathing

Women's Cricket World Cup, Mumbai

Sri Lanka 202 (48.4 overs): Perera 85 (99); Shorna 3-27

The Bangladeshi team 195-9 (50 overs): Joty 77 (98); Chamari Athapaththu 4-42

Sri Lanka win by seven runs

Sri Lanka claimed four crucial dismissals in the last innings segment to complete a heart-stopping triumph over their opponents and keep their slim chances of making it for the tournament knockout stage intact.

Pursuing a below-par total of 203 on a good batting surface in Navi Mumbai, the Bangladeshi team wanted nine more runs from the final six deliveries.

Yet, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu took three important dismissals in four deliveries and Nilakshi de Silva dismissed via run-out Nahida Akter to secure a exciting success for the Lankan team.

The victory – Sri Lanka's maiden of the tournament after three losses and two no-results against the Australian team and the Kiwi side – moves them level on four tournament points with the Indian team and the New Zealand side, who meet each other on the coming Thursday.

The Bangladeshi team, however, endured a fifth successive setback since winning their first match against Pakistan and have been removed from contention.

Although Bangladesh made the perfect start, with Marufa taking a wicket with the opening bowl of the encounter to send back Gunaratne, they were rightfully punished for a subpar fielding display.

They gifted lifelines to Hasini Perera, who was dropped multiple times, and the Lankan captain.

Even though the Sri Lankan skipper could not capitalise, sent back lbw for 46 one ball after being dropped by Rabeya, Perera forced the opposition pay.

She registered a first international half-century, making 85 from 99 bowls and contributing to an crucial 74-run fifth-wicket association with Nilakshi de Silva.

Bangladesh, guided by Shorna Akter's 3-27, dragged themselves back in the contest, with De Silva's removal in the 34th innings segment triggering a Sri Lanka downfall from 174 with four wickets down to 202 all out.

While batting second, Sri Lanka's initial pace attack Malki Madara and Prabodhani contained the opposition to 23 with one wicket down in a uninspiring opening overs and they were subsequently brought down to 44 for three.

Sharmin and Nigar Sultana Joty rebuilt their score, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket before the batter withdrew due to injury for a resolute 64 in the 36th innings segment.

It was in favor of Bangladesh heading into the final two bowling phases, with only 12 more runs needed.

However, Dasanayaka removed Ritu Moni and conceded just three runs before the captain's decisive intervention, with Rabeya, Nahida, captain Joty and Marufa Akter all removed as the Lankan team grabbed the triumph at the very end.

Ultimately, it was a game of nerve. The seasoned Athapaththu, who directed away a handful of fellow players as she got ready to deliver the final over, held her nerve. Bangladesh could not.

There will be plenty of inquiries about the team's batting display. They possibly have been pursuing 270 to 280 with the Lankan team appearing at ease on 159 with four wickets down in the 30th bowling phase, but rather the required total was significantly less.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh lacked aggression from the start, scoring at under 2.5 runs per over during the initial phase, suffering a initial wicket loss, and ultimately leaving themselves too much to do.

But no matter what issues there are with their batting, if they had taken their catches in the fielding department, that 203 total objective would have been substantially less.

It took them three attempts to end the 72-run stand second-wicket association, with wicketkeeper Joty being unable to grab a challenging chance behind the stumps to remove Hasini Perera on 23 runs before the captain was spared from a caught and bowled opportunity against Rabeya.

Perera was spilled further on 55 and 63 runs, the last attempt traveling straight to Jhilik at cover position, before eventually being given out leg before wicket by Shorna Akter as she tried to up the ante with partners getting out near her.

Afterwards in the batting effort, there was furthermore a failed stumping and a run-out opportunity lost, even though the latter was a slightly unlucky, with Rubya Haider substituting with the gloves following an injury to Joty.

Sadly for Bangladesh, such fielding issues are nowhere near a one-off. They've failed to catch 14 catches from a available 27 at this competition and boast the lowest fielding effectiveness (48.1%) of the competing sides.

They are a side who are generally moving in the correct path – they are playing in merely their second one-day World Cup ultimately – but substandard fielding is a glaring concern which requires focus.