Rain Denies Intriguing Run Chase

Sri Lanka and New Zealand’s chances of boosting their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 qualification hopes were spoiled by the rain as their group stage clash was abandoned in Colombo.

The rain arrived at the midway point and denied spectators an intriguing run chase, Sri Lanka having posted 258 for six in their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka’s second weather-related abandonment leaves them on two points from their opening four games, with the White Ferns a point better off.

In the action that preceded the downpours, Sri Lanka opted to bat upon winning the toss having come up short when chasing in their two completed games to date.

Chamari Athapaththu set the tone in style, driving her second ball to the cover boundary, and went on to add 101 with Vishmi Gunarathne, who was dropped twice.

Sophie Devine made the breakthrough for New Zealand, having Athapaththu caught in the deep by Maddy Green for 53, before Gunarathne followed when she was clean bowled by Rosemary Mair for a cautious 42.

Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera kept the scoreboard moving, contributing 26 and 44 respectively, before both fell to Bree Illing in an action-packed final 10 overs which saw Nilakshika Silva seize control as Sri Lanka added 80 runs.

Silva struck seven fours and a six in an unbeaten 55 from 28 balls to score her country’s fastest WODI half century and carry her side to their second-highest total in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups.

Devine finished as the pick of the New Zealand attack with three for 54 but admitted her frustration at the elements denying them a chance to chase their target.

“I thought we managed to peg them back a bit after the powerplay but they got a few more runs than we would have liked,” she said.

“It’s a shame the weather has had to play it’s part in it, as it was going to be a really good chase and we were excited, but that’s the way it has had to be.

“We have so much variety and different options in our attack, if we need someone to bowl stump to stump and contain an end, that’s where I fit in. I guess today, that was effective on that wicket. I just try and fit in where I can and use other bowlers to their strengths.”

Athapaththu was similarly frustrated by seeing another game washed out but took pride in how her side batted.

“We played good cricket and I am really happy about our batting performance,” she said. “The score was a good one to defend but I feel we missed another 20 or 25 runs.

“We can’t control the weather, we just have to focus on what we can do in our next three games.

On Silva’s innings, she added: “Nilakshi is one of our most important and experienced players, in the last 12 months she has played really good cricket for us and she did so again today.”

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka v New Zealand – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Sri Lanka 258/6 in 50 overs (Nilakshika Silva 55 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 53; Sophie Devine 3/54, Bree Illing 2/39)

New Zealand DNB

Result: Match Abandoned