The ICC Women’s World Cup match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand faced an unfortunate end when rain led to its abandonment at 16:45 BST. The game played out in Colombo, where Sri Lanka put on an extreme batting exhibition. They hit their target by scoring 258 runs for the loss of just six wickets over the course of 50 overs. Both sides were ultimately awarded a single point apiece as a result of the early termination of the match.
Sri Lanka’s batting performance was an exhibition of pure brilliance. Nilakshi de Silva had a magnificent day, scoring a powerhouse 55 runs from a mere 28 balls. Her fifty came in record time, bringing up the milestone in just 26 deliveries. Chamari Athapaththu played well for the visiting team as her powerful knock of 53-run innings off 72 deliveries bolstered the total. That pair created a fine platform of an opening partnership worth 101 runs to put the team in a very good position in the innings.
Vishmi Gurunaratne played confidently, chipping in with a crucial 42 runs from 83 balls to help solidify Sri Lanka’s position. The weather finally had its chance and shut down the game. This was New Zealand’s bowlers first true test against the mighty Sri Lankan batting lineup. Sophie Devine shone bright as the leading performer with the ball, taking three wickets for 54 runs.
The rain came down in sheets. It soon became apparent that play would be impossible to resume, so match officials made the decision to call off the game. This eventuality leaves New Zealand PNG in an impossible situation. They are literally playing for their lives to make it into the top four spots in the tournament’s round robin semi-finals. Those shared keynotes are likely to play against their chances, representing a serious obstacle on their nascent campaign trail.
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