Nigar Sultana struck a robust fifty that powered Bangladesh women’s team to a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the opener of the three Twenty20 internationals in Colombo on Tuesday.

With Nigar making an unbeaten 75 off 51 balls, her sixth T20I fifty, and the next highest, an undefeated 23-ball 33, coming from Ritu Moni, Bangladesh reached the victory 146-4, in reply to 145-6 by the hosts.

Fahima Khatun was the most successful bowler for the visitors, scalping 2-20, while Rabeya Khatun, Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun, and Fariha Trisna took one wicket each.

Harshitha Samarawikrama scored the top with 45 off 44 balls for Sri Lanka.

The home side lost their opener, Vishmi Gunaratne, inside the third over, that reduced them to 16-1.

Then, banking on Chamari Athapaththu’s 38, Harshistha’s 45, and Nilakshi de Silva’s 29 not out, the home side posted a competitive total in the stipulated overs.

Chasing down a challenging target, although the former champions also lost their opener Shamima Sultana for 5, however, cruised to the target, riding on Nigar and Rutu’s bat with one ball to spare.

Earlier, the Bangladesh women’s team claimed their last victory against the side nine years back in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014, where they beat the Lankan women’s by 3 runs at home.