Persistent rain in Colombo compelled the fifteenth match of the ICC Ladies’s World Cup 2025 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand to be deserted and not using a outcome. This was the second washout of the event, each on the R. Premadasa Stadium, resulting in each groups sharing factors. Sri Lanka holds the seventh place lead, whereas New Zealand sits at 5, with each groups nonetheless in rivalry.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka Ladies produced their finest batting efficiency of the event to this point, posting 258/6 in 50 overs, their second-highest complete in World Cup historical past. Openers Chamari Athapaththu (53 off 72) and Vishmi Gunaratne (42 off 83) stitched a stable 101-run opening stand. Hasini Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (26) then took over the center overs earlier than Nilakshi de Silva performed a quickfire knock of 55 off simply 28 balls, the quickest fifty of the event and the quickest by a Sri Lankan girl in ODIs, surpassing her personal document.
De Silva’s late cameo powered Sri Lanka to 80 runs within the remaining 10 overs. New Zealand’s fielding lapses, together with missed catches, dropped stumpings, and a number of other misfields, allowed the hosts to capitalize. Captain Sophie Devine (3/54) was the choose of the bowlers, whereas Bree Illing and Rosemary Mair chipped in with one wicket every.
Nevertheless, the rain quickly took over after the innings break, halting any possibilities of a chase. The primary spell of rain arrived simply because the umpires had been getting ready for inspection. Regardless of the bottom being totally lined and the tireless efforts of the groundsmen, persistent rain in two separate spells made play inconceivable. Umpires and officers ultimately had no selection however to name off the match, with each skippers, Chamari Athapaththu and Sophie Devine, sharing a handshake.
In the meantime, New Zealand, now on three factors, faces a troublesome marketing campaign forward with fixtures in opposition to Pakistan, India, and England. Sri Lanka, in the meantime, has matches in opposition to South Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to climb greater up the desk.
“Sri Lanka batted nicely. There’s a theme that when you’ve got wickets within the again finish you’ll be able to exploit that. They most likely received a couple of extra runs that we’d have appreciated. Disgrace the climate saved us off, we had been excited for the chase. Stats and numbers can solely go that far. Generally it’s about intestine. Actually about manipulating match-ups. One other expertise and alternative for our bowlers to go on the market in opposition to Sri Lanka. It’s about re-adjusting and shifting on. I solely bowled one over the opposite day. I’ve received myself in charge. I see the place I match among the many remainder of the group. Now we have received a lot selection. Thought was to bowl stump to stump and attempt to include them. Squeezing a little bit of dots was very important. We are going to assessment half the sport we performed and give you plans,” Sophie Devine mentioned.