England’s juggernaut rolled on in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 as they crushed Sri Lanka by 89 runs in another dominant display, this time orchestrated by the brilliance of Sophie Ecclestone. The left-arm spinner turned the game into her own stage, producing an exceptional spell of 4/17 with an economy of just 1.70, dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting line-up and sealing yet another clinical win for the defending champions.
From the very beginning, Ecclestone’s control was unmatched. Her flight, dip, and precision kept the Sri Lankan batters guessing. The breakthrough came early when she removed opener Hasini Perera, who struggled to read the turn. Her dismissal set the tone; England’s spin battery was here to dominate.
But it was Ecclestone’s wicket of Chamari Athapaththu that truly shifted the momentum. The Sri Lankan skipper, who had returned to the crease after being briefly retired hurt, was England’s biggest threat. Ecclestone, calm as ever, tossed one up beautifully that gripped and turned just enough to castle Athapaththu’s stumps. The moment was pure magic, a bowler at the peak of her powers outthinking one of the fiercest hitters in women’s cricket.
Harshitha Samarawickrama tried to rebuild the innings, playing patiently for her 33, but Ecclestone’s persistence paid off again. With subtle variations in pace, she drew Samarawickrama into an attempted drive that crashed into the stumps. Not long after, Kavisha Dilhari fell for 4, further tightening England’s stranglehold on the game.
By the 24th over, Sri Lanka had been reduced to 98/3, their chase losing direction as England’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. In the 29th over, the scoreboard read 116/5, with Ecclestone having wreaked havoc, the required run rate had ballooned to 7.66 while the current rate hovered around 3.97. Sri Lanka’s chase had all but fallen apart, suffocated by England’s discipline and Ecclestone’s artistry.
While Nat Sciver-Brunt’s record 5th World Cup ton, 10th in the format — a run-a-ball 117 — had earlier provided a strong platform, it was their bowling attack, led by Ecclestone- that ensured there was never a glimmer of hope for the Lankans. The spinners were backed superbly by tight fielding and smart bowling changes, showcasing the all-round depth of this English side.
With this 89-run victory, England continued their unbeaten march through the tournament. Each match has highlighted a different hero, but Sophie Ecclestone’s spell will stand out as one of the finest performances of the World Cup so far, a masterclass in control, patience, and precision.
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