Nilakshi de Silva Leads Sri Lanka Past New Zealand, Live Cricket
Nilakshi de Silva’s unbeaten 54 pushed Sri Lanka past New Zealand by five wickets in Southampton, and the result has left the defending champions close to a Group 2 exit in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka reached 153-5 in 19.4 overs to chase 151 with two balls to spare in live cricket.
Nilakshi de Silva Sets the Chase
De Silva finished on 54 not out from 37 balls and held the chase together after Sri Lanka had needed 151. Kaushani Nuthyangana made 24 not out, giving Sri Lanka the finishing partnership that closed out the match after Kavisha Dilhari had been run out for 46 when 50 were still required.
That finish came after New Zealand had put three fielding chances down. Bree Illing dropped de Silva on one, and Illing later spilled a simple chance at short fine leg off Melie Kerr’s bowling. Sri Lanka did not waste the extra lives.
Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr
New Zealand still had enough scoring in the middle of the match to post 150-6 in 20 overs. Sophie Devine made 45 off 30 balls, and Kerr also scored 45, but the total was not enough once Sri Lanka settled into the chase.
Inoka Dilhari took 2-35 and kept New Zealand from pushing on in the final stages. Sri Lanka’s effort with the ball mattered because New Zealand had scraped to 38-1 from the powerplay, a modest start for a side that needed more control of the innings.
Group 2 Pressure
The result carries weight because New Zealand had already lost their opening match to West Indies, while Sri Lanka had opened with a heavy defeat against England. New Zealand went into this tournament as one of the pre-tournament favourites to join England in the group’s top two, but a second straight loss has put their title defence on the brink.
Sri Lanka, by contrast, have kept themselves in contention after losing their first match. They leave Southampton with a five-wicket win, a chase completed under pressure, and a result that keeps their own path alive while New Zealand now sit one defeat from the edge.
