Sri Lanka Gears Up for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with Series Win Over Bangladesh
Sri Lanka's Strong Performance Ahead of the World Cup
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 winning the ODI series 2-1, the team continued their success by clinching the first two T20 internationals in a three-match series, boosting their confidence ahead of the prestigious tournament.
T20I Series Victory for Sri Lanka
In the opening T20I, Sri Lanka set a target of 161 runs, thanks to impressive innings from Imesha Dulani (55 runs) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (61 runs). Their bowlers then effectively limited Bangladesh to 136 runs, resulting in a comfortable 25-run victory.
The second T20I showcased another strong performance from Sri Lanka. Batting first, they scored 154 runs, with Chamari Athapaththu contributing 42 runs and Harshitha Samarawickrama adding 49 runs. The bowling unit, spearheaded by Kavisha Dilhari's impressive figures of 2 wickets for 15 runs, restricted Bangladesh to 133 runs, securing a 21-run win.
Final Preparations for the World Cup
The upcoming third T20I will be crucial for Sri Lanka as they 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 first match against the host nation, England.
Conversely, Bangladesh will need to reassess their strategy after a challenging start to the series. The Tigresses have struggled to compete with Sri Lanka in the initial T20Is and will aim to improve in the final match. Following this series, Bangladesh will engage in a tri-series with Scotland and the Netherlands, which will be vital for their preparation.
Like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh has not advanced to the knockout rounds of the T20 World Cup since their debut in 2014. They will begin their World Cup journey against the Netherlands, who are participating in the tournament for the first time, on June 14.