Even as fireworks of various colours and sounds lit up the skies of the D. Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, on the ground the sun set on Bangladesh’s semi-final qualification in yet another heartbreaking loss. Nigar Sultana Joty has kept her smile on despite heartbreaks and crushing losses at this World Cup but tonight it might be hard to get a wink of sleep.

For on Monday, she played a central role in keeping her side’s semi-final hopes alive with a superb knock of 77 runs, but it wasn’t enough as her Sri Lankan counterpart Chamari Athapaththu defended 9 runs in the last over and claimed three wickets to seal a thrilling seven-run win and keep her side’s semi-final chances alive.

Chasing 203 runs for victory, Bangladesh got off to the worst possible start, losing Rubya Haider for nought

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