The 36-year-old Sri Lankan middle-order batter Nilakshika Silva stood just one run away from scripting a cherished milestone, completing 1,000 career runs in Women’s One Day Internationals (ODIs), ahead of their fixture against New Zealand, led by skipper Sophie Devine, in Colombo. Both sides are desperate for victory.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to bat first. Decent contributions throughout the batting unit, followed by late fireworks from Nilakshika Silva (55 off 28 balls), registered the fastest half-century off just 26 balls, in the ongoing edition of the tournament.
She broke the previous record in the ongoing edition by Shorna Akter (off 34 balls) in the game against South Africa, on 13th October 2025. She achieved the landmark en route to her special innings with the bat for her side. Her knock included 7 boundaries and a maximum as Sri Lanka posted a solid total of 258/6 in their quota of 50 overs.
A seasoned campaigner who made her ODI debut a decade ago against New Zealand in Lincoln on 3rd November 2015, Silva has since carved a reputation as a resolute presence in Sri Lanka’s batting order. Across 51 ODIs, she has compiled 1,054 runs at an average of 29.27 and a strike rate of 71.79, with four half-centuries to her name. Her finest innings came against the West Indies on 21st June 2024 in Hambantota, where she struck a fluent 63 off 78 balls to help Sri Lanka secure a commanding 160-run victory.
Now, in Sri Lanka’s crucial clash against New Zealand in Colombo on 14th October 2025, she has crossed the 1,000-run landmark, a testament to her consistency and longevity in the international arena.
The ongoing 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka from 30th September to 2nd November 2025, has been a turbulent ride for Chamari Athapaththu’s side. Their campaign began with a 59-run defeat to India in a rain-curtailed opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Silva made an enterprising 35 off 29 balls, providing glimpses of her ability to accelerate in the middle overs.
The second match against defending champions Australia was abandoned due to relentless rain in Colombo on 4th October, forcing both teams to share the points. Their woes deepened in the third fixture, as Sri Lanka fell to England by 89 runs on 11th October in Colombo, with Silva contributing 23 off 38 balls in a valiant but insufficient effort.
With just one point from three matches, Sri Lanka currently occupies the seventh spot on the points table. In this testing phase, Silva has emerged as a key contributor; she has eclipsed skipper Chamari Athapaththu (111 runs) in the team’s run-scoring chart, with 113 runs from three innings at a strike rate of 118.94 and an average of 56.50. Notably, she is experiencing her maiden ODI World Cup campaign, an impressive feat considering her late arrival on the tournament’s biggest stage.
Sri Lanka now turns their focus to defending their total of 258 in today’s encounter against Sophie Devine’s New Zealand, in Colombo. The White Ferns come into this contest buoyed by a 100-run victory over Bangladesh on 10th October. For Silva, this game held added personal significance, as she surpassed the 1,000-run mark in front of home supporters and inspired a turnaround in Sri Lanka’s World Cup fortunes, at least with the bat so far.
Achieving the milestone not only enriches her international résumé but also serves as a rallying point for a team in dire need of momentum.
Loves all things female cricket