England Women secured a commanding 89-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in Women’s ODI World Cup match at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Batting first, England posted a competitive 253 for 9, powered by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brilliant century (117 off 117 balls) which anchored their innings despite early wickets.
Sri Lanka struggled in response, losing key wickets to England’s premier spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who took 4 for 17, bowling them out for 164 in 45.4 overs. England’s disciplined bowling and fielding, combined with the resilience shown in their batting, ensured they maintained their unbeaten run, topping the points table with three wins from three matches.
England’s innings had a shaky start as early wickets fell, but the team was steadied by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. Her smart, patient batting under tricky conditions was crucial, especially her 60-run partnership with Heather Knight, which helped recover the innings momentum. Despite some tight bowling from Sri Lanka, England capitalized on extras and fielding lapses, with Sciver-Brunt making the most of a crucial drop early in her innings to build her match-winning knock.
In their chase, Sri Lanka were dealt a significant blow when their influential captain Chamari Athapaththu sustained a hamstring injury and had to retire hurt, dampening their chances. However, the top order showed fight, with Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama putting on a resilient 58-run partnership, bringing hope for a possible chase.
The turning point came with the introduction of England’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who spun a web around the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Ecclestone’s spell broke the backbone of Sri Lanka’s innings, including the key wicket of the injured Athapaththu. Her tight control and variations resulted in four crucial wickets, derailing the chase after a promising middle-order stand.
Sri Lanka’s veteran left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera also bowled well, claiming 3 wickets for 33 runs, but the damage inflicted by Ecclestone and England’s other bowlers was too much for the home side. Sri Lanka’s batting struggled against England’s composed bowling attack, especially in the latter stages, eventually folding short of the target.
Fielding was an area where England gained an edge, with sharp catches and ground fielding maintaining pressure on Sri Lanka throughout the innings. The final wicket fell when Udeshika Prabodhani was caught by Sciver-Brunt off Linsey Smith, sealing a comprehensive win for England.
With this win, England consolidated their position at the top of the Women’s ODI World Cup points table, showcasing a blend of strong individual performances and cohesive team effort, while Sri Lanka will look to regroup after a spirited but ultimately insufficient fight in front of their home crowd. This result highlights England’s status as one of the tournament favorites heading deeper into the competition.
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