Batting lets Tigresses down

An inexplicable batting collapse saw Bangladesh suffer a three-run defeat (via DLS) in their Women's Asia Cup encounter against Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

The Tigresses made a mountain of a molehill as they lost four wickets in one over while in chase of a modest 41-run target in seven overs after rain interrupted proceedings in Sylhet yesterday.

With just 14 required off 12 deliveries and eight wickets in hand, Bangladesh lost all-rounder Rumana Ahmed, skipper Nigar Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, and Fahima Khatun in the penultimate over.

Sri Lanka spinner Inoka Ranaweera started the sixth over by having Rumana (8 off 9) caught at deep midwicket and then went on to remove Nigar (12 off 11) and Sobhana (1 off 2) in the third and fifth deliveries before Fahima was made run out trying to steal a double in the final delivery of the over.

Requiring 11 in the final over, Bangladesh lost the wicket of Salma Khatun and managed to score only seven runs as the Tigresses had to suffer a shocking defeat.

Bangladesh are fifth on the table with four points from two wins in five games. Nigar Sultana's troops will face the UAE in their final league stage game today at the same venue and, given rain doesn't play spoilsport, a win for the Tigresses would see them move to number four in the points table with equal six points as Thailand.

However, the Tigresses would progress to the semifinals courtesy of superior run rate.