The fifteenth fixture of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 sets the stage for an engaging contest as Sri Lanka Women take on New Zealand Women on October 14th at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The match begins at 3:00 PM IST, promising an enthralling battle between Sri Lanka’s spirited resilience and New Zealand’s disciplined approach.
Sri Lanka enters this encounter looking to regain momentum after a mixed start to their campaign. In their opening match against India, they had the visitors reeling at 124/6 before India’s lower order staged a recovery to post 271 (DLS) in 47 overs. Despite some valiant efforts with the bat, Sri Lanka fell short by 59 runs. Their second outing against Australia was unfortunately washed out due to persistent rain, and in their latest clash, England bundled them out for 164 while chasing 254.
New Zealand, on the other hand, are searching for consistency after a rocky start. Against Australia, they were in control early—reducing the champions to 128/5—before letting the match slip away, eventually losing by 89 runs. A spirited effort against South Africa saw them post 232 but fail to defend it. However, they bounced back strongly in their third match against Bangladesh, registering a dominant 100-run victory.
Squads:
Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya
New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team
Sophie Devine (C), Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Gaze (WK), Eden Carson, Molly Penfold, Lauren Down, Bernadine Bezuidenhout (WK)
Players to watch out:
Chamari Athapaththu
The heartbeat of Sri Lanka’s batting, Athapaththu remains central to her side’s fortunes. While she hasn’t converted her starts in this tournament (43 vs India, 15 vs England), her record is a testament to her class — 3,935 runs in 117 ODIs, including a majestic 195, alongside 46 wickets. Her all-round impact and leadership will once again be crucial.
Kavisha Dilhari
The young all-rounder continues to be Sri Lanka’s quiet contributor. After an impressive warm-up against Bangladesh (63 runs and 2/24), she is yet to find rhythm in the main tournament. With 698 runs and 30 wickets in 34 ODIs, Dilhari’s dual skills lend balance to the side in both departments.
Amelia Kerr
A genuine match-winner, Kerr’s all-round excellence makes her one of the most valuable players in world cricket. Her tournament returns so far — 33, 23, and 1 with the bat, and 2/54, 2/62, and 1/23 with the ball — underline her consistency. Across 80 ODIs, she boasts 2,224 runs (HS 232*) and 104 wickets (BB 5/17), making her the one to watch yet again.
Georgia Plimmer
The young top-order batter has shown promise despite an early run-out in the opener. Scores of 31 and 4 in the following games indicate steady progress. In 27 ODIs, Plimmer has accumulated 431 runs, including a century (112), and could play a vital anchoring role for the White Ferns.
Pitch:
The R. Premadasa surface offers early assistance for batters, with the average first-innings score hovering around 288. As the match progresses, spinners are likely to come into play, especially under lights. Teams winning the toss might prefer to bowl first, banking on early movement and a more predictable chase later in the evening.
Weather:
Colombo’s forecast points to partly cloudy conditions with chances of light rain through the day. Temperatures will remain near 30°C with 75% humidity, and a 13 kph breeze could provide slight assistance to swing bowlers early on. With an 80% chance of rain, brief interruptions cannot be ruled out.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Suzie Bates
Match Details:
Date – October 14, 2025
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Broadcast – Live on Star Sports Network | Streaming on JioCinema
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