Sri Lanka women’s team will take on Bangladesh women’s team in their second ODI today (4) at SSC grounds, commencing at 9.45 am. The first match between the two teams washed out at P. Sara Oval. The second game also was abandoned at the same venue on Tuesday. But Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) made arrangements to play the second game today and change the venue to SSC grounds. This is a good move said both women’s team coaches Rumesh Ratnayake (Sri Lanka ) and Hashan Tillekaratne (Bangladesh).

Our team performance was not up to the expectations and we wanted to come back strong today for the second game, said Sri Lanka women’s coach Rumesh Ratnayake. We saw some positives in the first washed-out game at P. Sara Oval grounds. After Sri Lanka women’s top-order wickets fell there were some good partnerships and that was a sign of good luck.

Those days we had to depend on one player, skipper Chamari Athapaththu. But today we see youngsters also come up with good performances and their support is always good for the seniors, said Rumesh. He was a former Sri Lanka fast bowler who has come to women’s cricket as a coach for the first time.

Bangladesh will be benefitted as their coach Hashan Tillekaratne, a former Sri Lanka skipper and former Sri Lanka women’s coach has good knowledge of our players. But our players are focused on the match and they wanted to play better and get good results,” said Rumesh.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh women’s coach Hashan Tillekaratne said, as a former Sri Lanka coach Bangladesh will get extra benefits from me but I think coaches can’t do everything for the players. They have to get good training under our guidance but their commitment and the way they learn lessons on the field is very important.

“I am satisfied with the performances of the Bangladesh team in the first washed-out ODI. The way they got started in that first game I am sure they will pose a good challenge against Sri Lanka today. The players are in good preparation from last November 1st under my coaching and went few tournaments including T-20 World Cup in South Africa. We have a well-balanced side and this Sri Lanka series gives good exposure for them”.

“SSC ground is a seasoned Test venue and it’s good to play here compared to Sara Oval. Both teams are happy to play the game at SSC. My bowlers and fielders did well at the first ODI while fielding has a lot of improvement with taking good catches and this level of fielding is very important at ODI’s,” said Hashan.

“Both teams are keen to play these matches to collect points for the World Cup qualification and this is very important. But the weather is unpredictable and we have to adjust to any condition,” said coach Tillekaratne. Both coaches Rumesh Ratnayake and Hashan Tillekaratne said their final eleven of the teams will be decided after observing the wicket before the game.

These are ICC Women’s Championship matches and all match results will be directly considered for rankings. Sri Lanka presently has played eight matches and won only one game and in the last two washed-out matches both sides have obtained one point each.

Sri Lanka presently is laying in ninth place with four points while Bangladesh also got four bonus points and collected their points through four no-decision games. Both teams are trying to get full points with victories. ICC ODI Championship’s first six teams can get direct qualification for the 2025 Women’s One Day World Cup. Other teams (below sixth place) have to play qualification round to enter the World Cup.

Rupavahini channel EYE will live telecast the women’s matches and SLC has made all arrangements to make the series a success.