A come-from-behind win against Bangladesh has reignited Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of making it to the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinals. And, captain Chamari Athapaththu said that her team would wait for a ‘miracle’ to happen and play to its potential in its final league match against Pakistan later this week.
“The way we batted, I am not happy because we had a good start but we didn’t continue. As a captain, I am not happy with the way we played because we are a really good team but we did not play up to our potential,” Athapaththu said on Monday, after guiding the team to a seven-run win.
ALSO READ | Bangladesh eliminated after Sri Lanka clinches last-over thriller
Chasing 203, Bangladesh bottled the chase as the Lankan captain claimed four wickets and defended nine runs in the final over. “We (will) try our best, play our best game in the next game and beat Pakistan, finish on a high. If (any) miracle happens, let’s see,” she added.
It was not easy to keep her cool and bowl the final over, but Athapaththu admitted that she knew only Nigar Sultana Joty would play with a straight bat and the rest of the Bangladesh batters would hit across the line.
“’I tried to bowl full and straight and sometimes I (also) try to bowl yorkers because I know Bangladesh players, only Joty can play straight, they all (were) trying to play across the line,” she said.
Published on Oct 21, 2025