Friday Sep 18, 2026
Friday Sep 18, 2026
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 05:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka held their composure to reach 153 for 5
Sri Lanka Women recorded a memorable five-wicket win over defending champions New Zealand Women in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group 2 encounter, completing a challenging run chase with two balls remaining at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
After being invited to bat, New Zealand posted 150 for 6 from their 20 overs. Captain Amelia Kerr and veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine were the main contributors with 45 runs each, helping the White Ferns build a competitive total after a cautious start. For Sri Lanka, Kavisha Dilhari was the most effective bowler, finishing with figures of 2 for 35.
Sri Lanka began their reply positively, with skipper Chamari Athapaththu setting the tone through a brisk 27 off 19 deliveries. New Zealand, however, struck back during the middle overs to keep the contest evenly balanced and increase the pressure on the chasing side.
The turning point came through Nilakshi de Silva, whose composed half-century provided the foundation for Sri Lanka’s successful pursuit. She struck 54 from 37 balls, blending sensible accumulation with timely attacking strokes to keep the required rate under control.
With the match going down to the closing moments, Sri Lanka held their composure to reach 153 for 5 in 19.4 overs and secure their first victory of the tournament. The result earned them two important points after their opening defeat to England.
The loss leaves New Zealand searching for its first win of the campaign after suffering a second successive setback, while Sri Lanka will take confidence from a result that revives its hopes of progressing from the group stage.
