New Zealand Women secured a comfortable eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka Women in their crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

After Sri Lanka Women chose to bat first, they managed to score 115/5 in 20 overs. New Zealand Women comfortably chased down the target in 17.3 overs after losing two wickets. 

Openers provided a good start

Although Sri Lanka Women had a strong start with a 26-run opening partnership in 3.3 overs, they couldn’t maintain the same speed after the dismissal of Vishmi Gunaratne (8). 

 

 

 

 

 

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Athapaththu and Samarawickrama had a 48-run partnership

Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama set up a 48-run partnership for the second wicket, but their partnership took 60 balls. Once that partnership was broken, the next Sri Lankan batters failed to score big runs in the slog overs. 

 

 

 

 

 

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While Samarawickrama (18) scored the second-highest runs in that innings, Athapaththu scored 35 off 41 balls with the help of five fours.

Kerr and Kasperek took two wickets each

Among the New Zealand Women bowlers, Amelia Kerr (2/13) and Leigh Kasperek (2/27) took two wickets each.     

 

 

 

 

 

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Plimmer scored a half-century

In reply, openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer provided a solid 49-run partnership for the opening wicket. While Bates was dismissed for 17 runs, Plimmer scored 53 off 42 balls. 

For the second wicket, Plimmer and Amelia Kerr settled a 46-run partnership. Kerr scored 34 not out off 31 balls, and she guided the White Ferns to the target with the captain Sophie Devine (13*).

 

 

 

 

 

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With this defeat, Sri Lanka Women ended this tournament with four defeats. Meanwhile, this victory helped New Zealand Women to strongly stay in contention for the semi-final qualification.

In the Group A points table, Australia Women are leading with six points after winning all three matches. India Women (net run rate +0.576) and New Zealand Women (net run rate +0.282) are in the second and third places, respectively, with four points each after winning twice and losing once.