Women’s World Cup- Sri Lanka set New Zealand 259-run target:Nilakshi Captain Atapattu’s score fifties for SL; NZ’s Sophie Devine scalps 3 wickets

In the 15th match of the Women’s ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka set New Zealand a target of 259 runs. Sri Lanka chose to bat at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The team scored 258 runs, losing 6 wickets. Captain Chamari Athapaththu scored 53 runs and Nilakshi de Silva scored 55 runs. Sri Lanka’s strong start After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka’s openers provided a strong start. Vishmi Gunaratne and captain Chamari Athapaththu put together an opening partnership of 101 runs. Athapaththu was out for 53 and Gunaratne for 42 runs. Hasini Perera, who came in at number 3, then formed a fifty-run partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama. Nilakshi’s fastest fifty Harshitha was out after scoring 26 runs. After her, Kavisha Dilhari was out for 4 and Hasini for 44 runs. The team lost 5 wickets at a score of 198 runs. After losing 5 wickets, Nilakshi de Silva batted quickly. Facing her, Piyumi Wathsala Baddege was out after scoring 7 runs off 15 balls. Wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani scored 6 runs off 6 balls. Nilakshi scored a fifty in just 26 balls and took the team to 258 runs. She remained unbeaten with 55 runs. Nilakshi scored the fastest fifty in the tournament (in terms of fewest balls). She broke the record of Bangladesh’s Shorna Akter, who had scored a half-century in 34 balls against South Africa. For New Zealand, captain Sophie Devine took 3 wickets and Bree Ling took 2 wickets. Rosemary Mair got 1 wicket. Eden Carson, Jess Kerr and Amelia Kerr could not take any wickets. Playing XI of both teams
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wicketkeeper), Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, Rosemary Mair and Bree Ling. Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wicketkeeper), Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Piyumi Wathsala Baddelege and Inoka Ranaweera. New Zealand’s dominance against Sri Lanka A total of 16 ODI matches have been played between the women’s teams of New Zealand and Sri Lanka so far. New Zealand dominated most of these matches. The team won 13 matches. Whereas, Sri Lanka won only 2 matches. While one match could not be decided. In the ODI World Cup, they faced each other 5 times, and New Zealand won every time. Devine is the tournament’s top scorer New Zealand captain Sophie Devine is in excellent form in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. She has scored one century and two half-centuries in 3 matches. She is the top scorer of this tournament. In bowling, Lea Tahuhu has performed brilliantly. Ranaveera took 7 wickets in 2 matches Sri Lanka’s batter Harshitha Samarawickrama has scored the most runs for the team. She scored 62 runs in the first two matches. Inoka Ranaveera is in form in bowling. She has taken 7 wickets in just 2 matches. The sixth match of the tournament will be played in Colombo At the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, both batsmen and bowlers get equal assistance. Here, the new ball swings in the initial overs, while spinners play a crucial role in the middle of the innings. Dew affects the second innings, making batting easier. So far, 25 Women’s ODIs have been played here. The team batting first has won 15 matches, and the team chasing has won 10. The sixth match of the tournament will be played in Colombo. Rain may cause disruption There is a 59% chance of rain in Colombo today. Clouds will remain throughout the morning, leading to humidity. The maximum temperature can go up to 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius. Possible Playing 11 of both teams New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (Captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (Wicketkeeper), Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu. Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (Captain), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (Wicketkeeper), Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoka Ranaweera.