England defeated Sri Lanka by 89 runs on Sunday (October 11) to extend their winning run in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The Nat Sciver-Brunt-led team completely defeated the co-hosts in Colombo to regain the top spot in the points table.
Captain Sciver-Brunt led from the very start by smashing a sensational century, while spinner Sophie Ecclestone smashed a stunning spell of 4-17.
Nat Sciver-Brunt unstoppable at the Women’s World Cup
Asked to bat first, England found themselves in a precarious situation after being reduced to 49/2 in the 10th over. Both England openers – Amy Jones (11) and Tammy Beaumont (32) – got starts but failed to capitalise.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Sri Lanka also had a chance to dismiss Sciver-Brunt cheaply, but they dropped her at three, and she then punished them by scoring 117.
Also read: Watch: Horrible scenes!! Chamari Athapaththu stretched after a serious injury during the World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka
In an innings where no other English batsman could score more than 32 runs, it was Sciver-Brunt’s century that ultimately made the difference in the match. With wickets falling at regular intervals on one side, the England captain initially remained cautious.
At the end of the 40th, England were 179/6 before Sciver-Brunt accelerated. As a result, England scored 49 runs from the last five overs to finish at 253/9, the highest score at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the ongoing competition.
England bowlers dismantle Sri Lanka
The total of 253 runs ultimately proved to be more than enough as England bowled out Sri Lanka for just 164 runs. Sri Lanka suffered a major blow early in the chase when their talismanic captain Chamari Athapaththu had to retire injured.
However, opener Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama kept their team in the hunt by taking the score to 95/1 before the former was dismissed for 35. Three runs later, Samarawickrama too departed as England put themselves in the driver’s seat.
Athapaththu returned in the middle but it didn’t matter much as she departed for 15, leaving her team reeling at 116/5. Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were eventually all out for 164 runs in the 46th over.
Short scores between England and Sri Lanka:
England 253-9 (50 overs): Nat Sciver-Brunt 117 (117); Inoka Ranaweera 3-33
Sri Lanka 164 (45.4 surpluses): Harshitha Samarawickrama 33 (37); Sophie Ecclestone 4-17
England won by 89 runs
#ICC #Womens #World #Cup #England #regain #top #spot #crushing #win #Sri #Lanka