Online Desk: Bangladesh started off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a seven-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in Cape Town on Sunday. Defending a modest target of 127 runs, pacer Marufa Akter gave some hopes by picking up three early wickets but Sri Lanka eventually clinched a comfortable win with 10 deliveries to spare, courtesy of a match-winning unbeaten 102-run stand for the fourth wicket between opener Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva.

Player-of-the-match Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 69 off 50 balls, striking eight fours and a six, while Nilakshi hit two boundaries to remain not out on 41 off 38 balls. Marufa’s fiery spell had Sri Lanka in a spot of bother up front as the Bangladesh seamer bowled a wicket-maiden in her first over after removing skipper Chamari Athapaththu on 15 runs. Marufa was on a hattrick in her next over when she dismissed another inform Lankan batter, in Vishmi Gunaratne with a return catch, and then bowled Anushka Sanjeewani in the next delivery as Sri Lanka were struggling on 25 for three inside the Powerplay.

Earlier, the Tigresses posted a 126 for eight in 20 overs after electing to bat. Sobhana Mostary’s 29 was the top score for the side, ahead of skipper Nigar Sultana Joty’s 28 while opener Shamima Sultana added 20. Once Joty got out in the 16th over with Bangladesh at 95 for four, the Tigresses could only score 31 runs in the remaining deliveries. Off spinner Oshadi Ranasinghe picked up three wickets, conceding 23 runs from her four overs, while Chamari Athapaththu picked up a couple for Sri Lanka. Up next, Bangladesh will take on defending champions Australia in their second group game of the World Cup on Tuesday.