The upcoming fixture, the 21st of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 between Bangladesh Women (BAN-W) and Sri Lanka Women (SL-W), is more than just a fixture—it is a subtle game of chess played with leather and seam. The balance of power appears to favour the batters, but it is the bowlers who will likely determine the outcome. Take Inoka Ranaweera, for example. She has taken 87 wickets in 84 WODIs, at an economy rate of 4.55, which indicates that she is both a workhorse and a trap setter. On the other hand, Fahima Khatun has had 41 wickets in 49 innings, with best bowling figures in her career of 5/21, indicating that she is capable of turning matches with a spell of inspiration. With a great deal at stake and with both teams desperate for momentum, it is the bowlers who are positioned to overturn this match in unexpected ways.
Ranaweera’s Spin Web: Restriction Meets Opportunity

Inoka Ranaweera is Sri Lanka’s stealthy assassin. Her average of 32.36 and consistently frugal economy of 4.55 indicate she is not just a wicket-taker but one who induces errors from batters. On a slow pitch in Dhaka, her left-arm orthodox spin could choke Bangladesh’s middle-order of batters, particularly those like Najmul Hossain Shanto, who have usually struggled against slow spin. Ranaweera can deliver long spells of spin; her strike rate of 42.6 indicates a wicket every 7 overs, which is vital for constricting batting momentum so that Sri Lankan pace could pounce when batters go for risky shots.
Fahima Khatun’s Strike Potential: One Spell Can Decide

Fahima Khatun, the superstar of Bangladesh, has the stamp of a match-winner. Her 5 wickets against India in 2024 revealed that she can produce the sort of impossible and breaking spells which shatter opposition hopes all of a sudden, but her economy of 4.49 too is an indication that she is someone who does not just attack but controls as well. Against the strong top-order of Sri Lanka, she has, apart from the arm-ball slinging and the arm-ball method among her innumerable variations, the ability to confuse footwork, and can force shattering early collapses.
Rabeya Khan: The Undercover Enforcer

Rabeya Khan may not lead the side as a bowler herself, but her dual role suits her in context. As a lower-order batter with an average of 9.66, she is often underestimated. However, her skill as a change bowler to tie up an over of 235 balls at 64.44 can break partnerships by different means. In a match like the 2023 Tri-Series against India, it is the unseen nature of their quiet overs that will eventually give those close matches away, having built the pressure of dot balls and forcing batters to play risky strokes in other departments.
Verdict: Spin Could Script Victory
If this contest morphs into a time-honored spin duel, individual over contests, a single delivery, a single wrong action in the air, could ensure the difference for the victor. Expect to see Ranaweera weaving the web, Fahima punting effective blows, and Khan with quiet pressure anchoring. In summary: in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, the individual who hits more boundaries is like a book title on, path so true, but who obviously retains control of the middle overs and dictates the pace, will determine the victor in this encounter in Dhaka.
Key Takeaway:
The battle in Dhaka will be won not with power, but with patience, variation, and cunning spin.
FAQs
1: What makes Inoka Ranaweera a match-winner?
Her ability to combine control with consistent wicket-taking spells makes her a pivotal factor on slow pitches.
2: Why is Fahima Khatun dangerous early in innings?
Her variations and breakthrough potential in power plays can destabilize top-order batters quickly.
3: How can Rabeya Khan influence the game without big wickets?
By maintaining dot-ball pressure and tying down partnerships, she allows frontline bowlers to attack and swing momentum.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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