4 wickets in 4 balls: Bangladesh’s epic collapse gives Sri Lanka a resounding victory at the 2025 Women’s World Cup
THE ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 witnessed one of his most stunning finishes as Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by seven runs in a final thriller at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The match ended in drama after Bangladesh suffered an incredible four-wicket collapse in four balls, allowing Sri Lanka to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Chamari Athapaththu’s final outburst is a game-changer
Defending a modest total of 203, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a magical spell in the final as Bangladesh needed just eight runs with four wickets in hand. What followed was pure chaos and a brilliant combination – Athapaththu trapped Rabeya Khan leg-before the very first ball, before a mix-up resulted in Nahida Akter being dismissed without facing a ball. Athapaththu then dismissed Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty (77) off the third delivery.
The drama culminated when Marufa Akter was ruled LBW on the fourth ball, sealing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Women’s World Cup history. Bangladesh, who were cruising comfortably at 195/5, collapsed to 195/9, handing Sri Lanka an unforgettable victory.
Athapaththu’s spell of 4 for 42 in 10 overs is a testament to his leadership, composure and world-class abilities under pressure.
Hasini Perera’s 85 guides Sri Lanka to competitive total
Earlier in the competition, Sri Lanka posted 202 all out in 48.4 oversanchored by a superb innings from Hasini Perera, who scored 85 off 99 balls. Her knock held the innings together after the early setbacks, with a vital 74-run partnership alongside Nilakshika Silva (37) stabilizing Sri Lanka’s middle order.
Skipper Athapaththu contributed a fluent 46, while Bangladesh’s bowlers kept things tight throughout. Shorna Akter (3/27) and Rabeya Khan (2/39) impressed with disciplined spells, preventing Sri Lanka from posting a higher total.
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Bangladesh’s heartbreaking collapse ends World Cup dream
Chasing 203, Bangladesh looked in control for most of their innings. Sharmin Akhter (64) and Nigar Sultana (77) anchored the chase brilliantly, taking the team from 44/3 to a commanding position at 126/3. With just 27 runs needed from five overs, Bangladesh looked destined for victory – until the final disaster struck.
SL: 202 (48.4 Vo)
BAN: 195/9 (50 Ov)Sri Lanka Women won by 7 points#cricket #CWC25 #ODI #Slvban pic.twitter.com/fCFdGex7Kf
– FemmesCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) October 20, 2025
A mixture of nervousness, poor running and Athapaththu’s brilliance saw the team collapse in dramatic fashion. Skipper Nigar Sultana, visibly emotional after the match, admitted:
“It was our game till the end. We had partnerships but lost wickets at crucial times. We just couldn’t keep our composure.”
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This article was first published on WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
