“Spin bowling created control in the middle phase and kept the scoring rate in check”
Sri Lanka Women secured a memorable five-wicket win over New Zealand Women in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group match in Southampton, chasing 151 with two balls remaining.
New Zealand posted 150 for 6, with Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr both scoring 45. Sri Lanka’s spinners kept control through the middle overs, with Kavisha Dilhari taking 2 for 35. Nensi Patel was the standout bowler for New Zealand with 2 for 23.
Sri Lanka’s chase began poorly as they slipped to 55 for 4, putting them under early pressure. Nilakshika Silva then steadied the innings with a composed unbeaten 54 off 37 balls, rebuilding the chase with a key 50-run stand alongside Kavisha Dilhari.
She later joined Kaushini Nuthyangana (24 not out off 14), and the pair added a match-winning unbeaten partnership to take Sri Lanka close. Nuthyangana finished the game with a boundary in the final over.
Fielding errors from New Zealand, including a dropped catch early in Silva’s innings, proved costly in a tight finish. Sri Lanka’s calm approach in the final overs helped them secure a crucial victory.