Sri Lanka Women held their nerve in a thrilling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group 2 contest to secure a memorable five-wicket victory over New Zealand Women with two balls remaining at Southampton. In a game that ebbed and flowed until the final over, the Sri Lankan middle order showcased composure under pressure after New Zealand had earlier posted a competitive 150/6 in 20 overs.
New Zealand Women began cautiously but lost an early wicket when opener Isabella Gaze departed for just 4 runs in the third over. Mithali Ayodhya provided the first spark for Sri Lanka, claiming the wicket to leave New Zealand at 4/1. However, Georgia Plimmer and skipper Melie Kerr steadied the innings with a useful rebuilding stand. Plimmer played a patient knock of 18 from 22 balls, striking two boundaries, while Kerr looked fluent from the outset. The pair added valuable runs to settle nerves after the early setback, before Plimmer fell in the ninth over, caught by Hasini Perera off Nimasha Meepage’s bowling, leaving New Zealand at 53/2.
The innings gained real momentum when captain Melie Kerr found an ideal partner in Sophie Devine. The experienced duo stitched together the most crucial partnership of the innings, frustrating the Sri Lankan attack with controlled aggression. Kerr played a captain’s knock of 45 from 36 deliveries, smashing five boundaries at a strike rate of 125. Meanwhile, Devine matched her intensity with a brisk 45 off just 30 balls that included four boundaries and one six. Their partnership shifted the pressure back on Sri Lanka and helped New Zealand cross the 90-run mark comfortably. Yet Sri Lanka kept striking at key intervals. Kavisha Dilhari broke the dangerous stand by dismissing Kerr at 96/3 in the 13th over, and shortly after, Brooke Halliday managed only 7 before falling to Kaushini Nuthyangana.
Despite losing wickets, Devine continued to push the scoring rate and looked set for a half-century until Chamari Athapaththu’s side fought back impressively in the death overs. Devine departed for 45 in the 18th over, ending a threatening stay at 139/5. Sri Lanka’s bowlers then tightened their grip, preventing a late flourish. Maddie Green added an unbeaten 18 off 13 balls, while Jess Kerr remained not out on 6 as New Zealand closed on 150/6 in 20 overs, a total that looked competitive but not beyond reach on a decent batting surface.
Sri Lanka’s bowling effort was collective and disciplined, with contributions coming from almost every bowler. Kavisha Dilhari was the standout performer, returning figures of 2/35 in four overs while breaking key partnerships in the middle phase. Kaushini Nuthyangana also impressed with 2 wickets, dismissing Isabella Gaze and Brooke Halliday to finish with excellent control. Mithali Ayodhya and Chamari Athapaththu chipped in with one wicket each, while Sugandika Kumari maintained pressure through economical bowling, conceding only 28 runs in her three overs. Nimasha Meepage also delivered a tidy spell of 1/26 from four overs, ensuring New Zealand never truly accelerated beyond control.
Chasing 151 for victory, Sri Lanka Women started positively through Vishmi Gunaratne and captain Chamari Athapaththu. Although the opening stand showed promise, New Zealand struck when Athapaththu, after an attacking 27 off 19 balls featuring four boundaries and a six, was bowled by Bree Illing at 45/1 in the sixth over. Gunaratne had contributed a steady 17 from 19 balls before falling soon after, caught by Plimmer off Nensi Patel at 47/2. Harshitha Samarawickrama struggled for fluency during her stay, making only 5, while Hasini Perera managed 2, as Sri Lanka slipped to 55/4 and suddenly looked in trouble in the chase.
At that stage, the game seemed to be tilting towards New Zealand. However, Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva engineered a crucial rescue act. Dilhari played a measured hand of 17 from 16 balls before being run out at 105/5, but her partnership helped stabilize the innings. The match turned dramatically through Nilakshika Silva, who anchored the chase brilliantly with an unbeaten 54 off 37 deliveries.
–Her innings, laced with five boundaries and one six, came at a strike rate of 145.94 and displayed maturity under pressure. Supporting her superbly was wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana, who provided the finishing touch with a quickfire unbeaten 24 from just 14 balls, striking three boundaries and maintaining a blistering strike rate of 171.42. Their unbroken partnership guided Sri Lanka past the target at 153/5 in 19.4 overs, sealing victory with two balls to spare.
New Zealand’s bowling unit had moments of control but struggled to close the contest. Nensi Patel was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/23 in four overs, removing Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama at important moments. Bree Illing chipped in with the crucial wicket of Chamari Athapaththu, while Rosemary Mair bowled economically, conceding 28 runs in her four overs. Melie Kerr delivered a controlled spell of 4-0-24-0, and Jess Kerr bowled tightly in her limited overs, but Sophie Devine’s expensive final spell allowed Sri Lanka to seize momentum late.
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