DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Pakistan won their first match of the Women’s Asia Cup in a bowler-dominated day in Dambulla on Thursday, where off-spinner Javeria Khan took six wickets to dismiss Bangladesh for 72 runs.

Bangladesh bowlers gave their side a very good chance of beating Pakistan for the second time in the tournament as they restricted them to 110. Sana Javed was promoted up the order to open along with Bismah Maroof but the two only added four runs before Javed was caught behind off Panna Ghosh in the first over.

She came back to remove Maroof and captain Urooj Mumtaz in her third and fourth overs and reduced Pakistan to 20 for three. Things didn’t improve for Pakistan and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Asmavia Iqbal was their top scorer with 28 and no other batsman scored for more than 20. Tithy Sarkar, who is Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with eight wickets, picked up three for 29.

But Pakistan’s target turned out to be too big for Bangladesh as eight out of 11 batsmen failed to reach double figures, including three who were dismissed for ducks. Javeria and Mumtaz shared nine wickets between them to bowl out Bangladesh inside 34 overs.

Shathira Jakir was their top scorer with 19 runs. Pakistan now have five points from five games, one more than Bangladesh, and both sides have a match left before they leave Sri Lanka.

India continued their invincible form in the Asia Cup with a convincing eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Kurunegala. Next time the two sides meet will be in the final on Sunday.

Pujare Seema, an off-break bowler playing her first international tournament, took three wickets to become the leading wicket-taker with 11 from five games. But Jhulan Goswami, who has nine, became the fourth woman to reach 100 wickets in ODIs and India’s XI yesterday boasted of two bowlers who have reached the landmark — Goswami and Neetu David.

The first two Sri Lankan wickets fell for nine but then Dedunu Silva and Suwini de Alwis stabilised the innings with a 47-run partnership. Seema broke the partnership when she had de Alwis caught for 22.

In her next over she bowled Silva and Sri Lanka stumbled to 57 for four. She then ended a brief 40-run revival between Chamani Seneviratna and Dilani Maodara by dismissing Seneviratna for 16. Maodara could only add 26 with the last five batsmen and Sri Lanka ended their innings at 123 for 9.

India’s openers were dismissed early but Asha Rawat and Mithali Raj added an unbeaten 84 to wrap up the match in 26 overs.