Nilakshika Silva produced a match-winning unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka stunned defending champions New Zealand by five wickets in a thrilling ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 encounter at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. Chasing a challenging target of 151, Sri Lanka reached 154/5 with two balls to spare, registering their first victory of the tournament and handing New Zealand a second consecutive defeat.
New Zealand's Innings
Earlier, New Zealand posted a competitive 150/6 after being asked to bat. Captain Melie Kerr and veteran Sophie Devine led the charge with 45 runs apiece. Kerr struck five boundaries in her 36-ball knock, while Devine smashed six fours and a six in an equally impressive innings. Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green chipped in with 18 runs each.
Sri Lanka's Bowling Effort
Sri Lanka's bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Kavisha Dilhari emerging as the most successful bowler with figures of 2/35. Nimasha Meepage, Sugandika Kumari, Mithali Ayodhya and captain Chamari Athapaththu claimed one wicket each.
Sri Lanka's Chase
Sri Lanka made a bright start through Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne before slipping from 45 without loss to 55/4, placing New Zealand firmly in control. However, Silva anchored a remarkable recovery, first adding 50 runs with Dilhari and then sharing an unbroken 48-run stand with Kaushini Nuthyangana to steer her side home.
Match-Winning Partnership
Silva remained unbeaten on 54 from 37 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six, while Nuthyangana contributed a valuable 24 not out from 14 balls. Silva was named Player of the Match for her decisive innings.
Tournament Implications
The victory lifted Sri Lanka into contention in Group A, while New Zealand's title defence suffered another significant setback after back-to-back defeats.
