Athapaththu seals whitewash for Sri Lanka

In a rain-affected third and final T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Saturday (May 2), skipper Chamari Athapaththu's stellar all-around performance helped Sri Lanka win by three runs. Athapaththu scored the most runs with 41 before scoring 2/15 in a two-over spell that included a nerve-wracking final over as Sri Lanka won the series. After Sri Lanka were asked to bat first and the game was reduced to nine overs per side due to rain, Athapaththu nearly lost her bat. She hit a couple boundaries and a six for 17 runs in her first 10 deliveries, and her opening partner, Imesha Dulani, added four boundaries against Marufa Akter to help Sri Lanka reach 40 in the first three overs. The brakes were applied by Sultana Khatun and Shanjida Akter Meghla, a spin duo. Before Shanjida dismissed Harshitha Samarawickrama for three, Sultana first castled Dulani. Sri Lanka dropped from 43/0 to 53/4 thanks to Sultana's double-whammy dismissals of Hansima Karunaratne and Nilakshika Silva, who went 3 for 8 in her two overs. The visitors, on the other hand, were always on track for a respectable total as long as Athapaththu was present. Before Shanjida's second over, from the opposing end, produced 11 runs, she picked up a few boundaries against Ritu Moni's speed. Kavisha Dilhari made a crucial cameo, scoring a six and a four in the final over before Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari were both run out off the final two deliveries, leaving Sri Lanka with 87/6 in their nine-over allotment. Bangladesh batted well in response, with Sobhana Mostary leading the chase and Dilara Akter falling to Athapaththu after a few early boundaries. Mithali Ayodhya hit a 13-run over with 44 runs needed off the final four overs to put pressure back on the visitors, but Mostary fell after a 15-ball 21. Sugandika Kumari picked up a couple of wickets in the penultimate over after Dilhari bowled a seven-run over to raise the asking rate. As 14 runs were required off the final over, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana, who swept Kumari for a six, held the key. Athapaththu caught her at long on with the first ball, and Sultana scored a boundary to keep the game interesting with 10 runs needed in three deliveries. However, Athapaththu maintained her composure and secured the visitors' nerve-wracking victory.