Bangladesh national women’s team suffered yet another series defeat after they lost the third and final women’s T20I by 44 runs against their Sri Lankan counterparts at the SSC Ground in Colombo on Friday.

The Tigresses, who lost the preceding WODI series by a 0-1 margin, earlier clinched a six-wicket win over the hosts in the WT20I series opener to create a chance of clinching their maiden series win over the neighbouring side.

Sri Lankan middle-order batter Nilakshi de Silva made the difference on Friday as she struck a blistering knock of unbeaten 63 off 39 balls that included four fours and as many sixes while in-form batter Harshitha Samarawickrama also made 51 not out to take the game away from the Tigresses’ reach.

Their unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 102 runs powered the hosts to 158-3 in their stipulated overs after they won the toss and elected to bat first.

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu also made 32 runs for the host team. For Bangladesh, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter and Fahima Khatun took one wicket each.

Experienced pacer Jahanara Alam, however, was at the receiving end on the day as she finished with 0-44 in her four overs – the costliest bowling performance by a Bangladeshi bowler in this format – that included 24 runs in her last over.

Bangladesh had to break their highest successful run chase record to beat Sri Lanka in the match (the previous record was against the same team when they chased 146 in the series-opener) but they hardly could showcase any fight during their innings.

Udeshika Prabodhani, Kawya Kavindi and Kavisha Dilhari all took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.

The Tigresses are scheduled to return home from Sri Lanka today.