'Dropped catch costs Bangladesh win over Sri Lanka'

A single misjudged step at the boundary rope may have cost Bangladesh their preferred route through the Women's Asia Cup semi-finals, as a dropped catch in the 18th over opened the door for Sri Lanka to complete a nerve-wracking four-wicket chase at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 6).

Chasing a modest 115 to win, Sri Lanka appeared cornered at 86 for six after 17 overs, needing 29 runs off the final three with only the lower order left to bat. Bangladesh's bowlers, led by pacer Marufa Akter's three-wicket haul, had squeezed the innings into a position that looked firmly in their control.

That control unraveled in the very next over. On the third ball of the 18th, bowled by Ritu Moni, Harshita Samarawickrama went for the big shot down the ground toward deep midwicket. Debutant fielder Farzana Yasmin, stationed well inside the boundary rather than on the rope, could not close the gap in time. The ball sailed over her for six instead of settling into her hands for what should have been a regulation catch.

The over yielded 16 runs in total, slashing Sri Lanka's equation to just 13 needed off two overs. Harshita, given a life at a pivotal moment, seized it — finishing unbeaten on 48 off 37 balls with four fours and two sixes to steer her side home with four balls to spare and claim the player-of-the-match award.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary, who top-scored for her side with 34, pointed directly to the missed chance as the turning point.

"Up until the 18th over, the match was very much in our control," she said. "We dropped a catch at deep midwicket in that over. If we had held onto it, we might have won the match."

The defeat marks Bangladesh's seventh consecutive loss to Sri Lanka and their first win over the neighbours since May 2023, with Sri Lanka now leading the head-to-head 14-3 across 17 meetings. More significantly, it has complicated Bangladesh's semi-final path — captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti had spoken before the tournament of avoiding India in the last four, but Sunday's result means Bangladesh must now beat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday just to qualify, with a win setting up a semi-final against India regardless.

Sri Lanka, by contrast, wrapped up their group campaign with a perfect six points from three matches and advanced to the semi-finals as group champions.

Bangladesh had earlier posted 114 for eight after being sent in to bat, with Mostary's 34 off 41 balls the highest score of the innings, and Fahima Khatun's late reverse-sweep and paddle-sweep boundaries in the final over adding crucial runs. Chamudi Prabodha (3/21) and Sugandhika Kumari (2/22) did the early damage for Sri Lanka's attack.

Bangladesh will face the United Arab Emirates in their final group match on Tuesday, needing victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive.