Lankan women ready to make amends

Chinthana Wasala in Dambulla

The fourth Women's Asia Cup is on the go with the competition getting hot. India has already taken the lead being victorious so far in the tournament followed by Sri Lanka the home team in the second slot.

Sri Lankan women take on Bangladesh at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today while the battle of the traditional rivals will take place at Kurunegala with table leaders India meeting Pakistan there.

Prior to the tournament, the predictions were that this is a battle between India and Sri Lanka.

That was because those two teams were regarded as the most powerful teams in the competition. Bangladesh who still has not made ODI status, is making their first Asia Cup and Pakistan has not come up with appreciable performances throughout the last three editions of the Asia Cup.

But this time those two teams too seem to be making an impact. When Sri Lanka met Pakistan on the first day of the tournament, Pakistanis batted throughout their 50 overs although they failed to make a victory on this day. With Sri Lanka's good bowling attack, comprising of Shashikala Siriwardene, Chamari Senevirathne, Sripali Weerakkody, Chamari Polgampola, Eshani Kaushalya and Sewini de Alwis, they defended their last two wickets till the end.

Bangladesh made a strong come back to the tournament when they defeated the Pakistanis at the Welagedera Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistani women were not confident in front of the tournament debutants and were bowled out for 134 runs in 47.4 overs. Chasing the unexpected lower score, Bangladeshi Women went ahead of it in the 46th over with skipper Salma Khatun scoring 53 not out.