NEW DELHI: Skipper Chamari Athapaththu delivered a stunning final over, taking three wickets to seal a dramatic seven-run win for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in their Women’s World Cup clash on Monday.

Defending a modest total of 202, Sri Lanka were under pressure for most of the chase before Athapaththu’s brilliance in the final over turned the contest on its head. Bangladesh needed nine runs off the last six balls, but the Sri Lankan captain gave away just one while picking up three wickets to pull off a remarkable win.

Athapaththu trapped Rabeya Khan leg-before on the first ball, then a direct hit at the non-striker’s end ran out Nahida Akter. The next delivery saw Nigar Sultana, who had held the innings together, hit straight to Nilakshika Silva at long-off. On the very next ball, Marufa Akter was trapped in front, sealing Bangladesh’s heartbreak.

Bangladesh, once cruising at 176 for three, collapsed to 195 for nine at the end of their 50 overs. Their hopes of reaching the semifinals also took a major hit, as they slipped to seventh place, while Sri Lanka climbed to sixth with four points — tied with India and New Zealand but behind on net run rate.

Earlier, Bangladesh had looked on course for victory thanks to captain Nigar Sultana’s fighting 77 and a solid 82-run stand with Sharmin Akhter, who made 64 before retiring hurt due to exhaustion. Their partnership revived Bangladesh from 44 for three and put them within touching distance of their first-ever ODI win over Sri Lanka.

But Athapaththu’s late magic ensured Sri Lanka kept their semifinal hopes alive.

Earlier in the day, Hasini Perera’s career-best 85 lifted Sri Lanka to 202 before Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by 18-year-old Shorna Akter (3/27), staged a strong fightback. Perera, who struck 13 fours and a six, built crucial partnerships with Athapaththu (46) and Nilakshika Silva (37) before a late collapse derailed the innings.

Shorna was the standout performer with the ball, dismissing Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, and Perera in quick succession to restrict Sri Lanka from a promising 174 for four to 202 all out in 48.4 overs.

In the end, though, it was Athapaththu’s composure and skill under pressure that made all the difference in a match that swung wildly till the final delivery.

(With PTI Inputs)