Sri Lanka Gains Momentum Ahead of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka's Dominance in T20 Series Against Bangladesh
Sylhet [Bangladesh], April 30: Sri Lanka is gaining significant momentum as they prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, following a commanding performance against Bangladesh. After clinching the ODI series 2-1, the visitors continued their success by winning the first two T20 internationals in a three-match series, boosting their confidence ahead of the prestigious tournament.
In the opening T20I, Sri Lanka set a target of 161 runs, thanks to impressive contributions from Imesha Dulani, who scored 55, and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who added 61 runs. Their disciplined bowling attack then limited Bangladesh to 136 runs, resulting in a comfortable 25-run victory, as reported by the ICC.
The second T20I showcased another strong performance from Sri Lanka. Batting first, they managed to score 154 runs, with Chamari Athapaththu contributing 42 runs and Harshitha Samarawickrama scoring 49. A solid bowling display, highlighted by Kavisha Dilhari's figures of 2 for 15, restricted Bangladesh to 133 runs, securing a 21-run win.
The upcoming third T20I will be crucial for Sri Lanka as it provides one last chance to finalize their squad before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which kicks off on June 12.
Sri Lanka has participated in every edition of the tournament since its launch in 2009 but has yet to reach the knockout stages. They are eager to change this narrative, starting with their opening match against the hosts, England, which will also be the tournament's inaugural game.
On the other hand, Bangladesh will need to regroup after a challenging start to the series. The Tigresses have found it difficult to compete with Sri Lanka in the first two T20Is and will be looking to improve in the final match.
Bangladesh, however, has more opportunities ahead. After the series against Sri Lanka, they will engage in a tri-series with Scotland and the Netherlands, which will be vital preparation for all teams involved. Like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh has also struggled to advance to the knockout rounds of the T20 World Cup since their debut in 2014.
Bangladesh will begin their T20 World Cup journey against the Netherlands, who are making their tournament debut, on June 14.