England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s magnificent century and two-wicket haul, aided by Sophie Ecclestone’s 4-17, guided the previous champions to a commanding 89-run win over Sri Lanka within the Girls’s World Cup conflict at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
This was England’s third win on the trot within the event, which saved their unbeaten document intact and consolidated their spot on the high of the standings.
Chasing 254, openers Hasini Perera and captain Chamari Athapaththu began issues slowly for the facet earlier than an unlucky incident (she pulled her hamstring whereas stretching after taking a run and needed to be stretchered out) compelled the previous to retire damage on 7 within the sixth over earlier than popping out to bat once more later.
Nonetheless, Vishmi Gunaratne changed the Sri Lankan skipper within the center earlier than Charlie Dean eliminated her for 10, giving England their first breakthrough within the ultimate over of the powerplay.
Regardless of shedding a wicket, Sri Lanka had been 37/1 after 10 overs, giving a troublesome struggle to England’s goal. Nonetheless, issues turned drastically as Sri Lanka misplaced the plot within the center overs and had been diminished to 116/5 after 28 overs, with solely Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama making noticeable contributions of 35 and 33, respectively, as Ecclestone wreaked havoc on the Lankan batting order.
Sri Lanka had been by no means in a position to get better from the collapse and had been bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs as Nilakshika Silva’s 23 was the third-highest complete from the shedding facet.
For England, Ecclestone returned with figures of 4-17 in her 10 overs whereas Sciver-Brunt and Charlie Dean bagged two wickets apiece.
Earlier, a record-breaking century from Nat Sciver-Brunt powered England to a complete of 253. Sciver-Brunt’s good knock not solely anchored England’s innings but in addition noticed her turn out to be the participant with probably the most centuries in Girls’s ODI World Cups, surpassing legends Janette Brittin, Charlotte Edwards, and Suzie Bates along with her fifth hundred within the event’s historical past.
England’s innings, nonetheless, was removed from easy. Openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont had been dismissed inside the primary 10 overs, leaving the facet struggling early regardless of reaching 50 runs within the powerplay. Former and present skippers Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt then stabilized the innings with a 60-run partnership, steering England out of hassle.
The hosts, nonetheless, continued to maintain the strain on by taking wickets at common intervals. England’s center order, which had proven vulnerability in opposition to Bangladesh of their earlier outing, as soon as once more faltered. Inoka Ranaweera led the Sri Lankan assault beautifully, claiming 3 for 33 in her 10 overs, dismissing Knight, Emma Lamb, and Alice Capsey, and sustaining a superb economic system of three.30.
Ranaweera obtained robust help from Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari, and Udeshika Prabodhani, who chipped in with key wickets. Earlier on the toss, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu had said that proscribing England to 200–240 can be successful – a goal her bowlers practically achieved.
Regardless of the collapse round her, Sciver-Brunt held agency at one finish, conserving the scoreboard shifting and making certain England completed on a aggressive be aware. She was lastly dismissed off the penultimate supply of the innings, trying a six off Prabodhani’s yorker.
Her century – the tenth of her ODI profession – ensured England ended their innings on a excessive, setting Sri Lanka a difficult chase whereas etching her title within the document books.
Transient scores: England 253/9 in 50 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 117, Tammy Beaumont 32; Inoka Ranaweera 3-33, Udeshika Prabodhani 2-55) beat Sri Lanka 164 all out in 45.4 overs (Hasini Perera 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 33; Sophie Ecclestone 4-17, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-25) by 89 runs