Sri Lanka posted a competitive 258 all out in 49 overs against New Zealand in Match 15 of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025(CWC Women 2025) at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. In a dramatic turn of events, rain has intervened at the R. Premadasa Stadium just as New Zealand was beginning their chase, potentially altering the course of what promised to be a thrilling encounter between two struggling teams in the tournament.
Despite earlier predictions of a low-scoring encounter dominated by New Zealand, Sri Lanka produced their best batting performance of the tournament, showcasing aggressive intent and resilience that gave their campaign a much-needed boost.
Match Details – Match 15, CWC Women 2025
Match: Sri Lanka Women vs New Zealand Women (Match 15)
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Date: October 14, 2025
Attendance: Sold out crowd supporting the home team
Sri Lanka’s Total: 258 all out in 49 overs
New Zealand’s Status: Did not Bat
Match Result: Match Abandoned Due to Rain
Sri Lanka Women vs New Zealand Women — Full Match Review
In a dramatic twist, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Women’s World Cup 2025 match at Colombo was abandoned due to relentless rain despite a sensational 55* off 28 from Nilakshi de Silva that almost turned the tide. The result: both teams share points in a fixture full of promise but foiled by weather.
Match Summary & Key Highlights
Toss, Conditions & Decision to Bat
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, banking on a solid total to defend in humid conditions. Early overs showed promise, but the pitch and weather loomed large as threats.
Steady Start, Big Partnership
Chamari Athapaththu set the tone with a brisk 33 off 33 in the first 10 overs while batting with Vismali Gunaratne, who had a cautious 10 off 27.
Athapaththu converted early stability into a half-century, marking her 20th in ODIs.
Gunaratne was removed in the middle overs by Rosemary Mair, following which Sri Lanka struck two key setbacks: Athapaththu’s wicket by Sophie Devine, and Gunaratne’s dismissal.
Momentum Shifts & Middle-Order Fightback
With Sri Lanka reeling at roughly 198/5, Hasini Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama held the innings together with a 58-run stand, rebuilding hope.
But it was Nilakshi de Silva who lit up the final phase. Coming in around the 42nd over, she hammered 55 off 28 balls, unleashing a furious assault of boundaries and sixes in the death overs. That pushed Sri Lanka past the 250 mark.
Rain’s Arrival & Match Abandonment
Despite Sri Lanka posting 258/6 in 50 overs, the rain intervened before New Zealand could take to the crease. The match was abandoned with no result declared — the second washout for Sri Lanka in the tournament.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka: 258/6 (Nilakshi 55*, Athapaththu 53, Perera 44)
New Zealand: Did not bat — match abandoned
Sri Lanka’s First Innings: A Turning Point
Excellent Opening Partnership
Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu and opener Vishmi Gunaratne put on a commanding 101-run opening partnership that set the tone for a competitive batting display. Both batters showed maturity and aggression, combining classical stroke play with calculated risk-taking.
Opening Partnership Highlights:
- Partnership Value: 101 runs
- Athapaththu’s Contribution: 53 runs off 71 deliveries (strike rate: 74.65)
- Gunaratne’s Contribution: 42 runs
- Impact: Provided excellent platform and momentum
- Duration: Solid first-wicket stand that built confidence
Athapaththu, captaining Sri Lanka in their desperate quest for their first tournament win, played a composed innings that demonstrated leadership through performance. Her 53-run contribution proved crucial in helping Sri Lanka reach a respectable total.
Nilakshika Silva’s Record-Breaking Fifty
The standout performance of Sri Lanka’s innings came from Nilakshika Silva, who blazed an exceptional 26-ball fifty – one of the fastest in Women’s World Cup history. Silva’s assault was characterized by brutal stroke play and fearless batting against quality New Zealand bowling.
Silva’s Explosive Innings:
- Final Score: 55 runs off 28 deliveries
- Strike Rate: 196.43 (phenomenal execution)
- Boundaries: 7 fours
- Sixes: 1 six
- Impact: Transformed the innings during the crucial death overs
- Historic Achievement: One of the fastest fifties in Women’s ODI World Cup cricket
Silva’s 26-ball fifty represents a statement of intent from Sri Lanka. Her willingness to take on quality bowling, particularly the experienced New Zealand bowlers, showcased the aggressive approach that Sri Lanka has been lacking throughout the tournament.
The impact of Silva’s onslaught cannot be overstated. In the final ten overs, Sri Lanka scored 80 runs, with 47 of those coming in the last five overs. This death-overs acceleration provided Sri Lanka with a total that represents their best effort of the tournament.
Hasini Perera’s Valuable Contribution
Hasini Perera added 44 runs to Sri Lanka’s total, providing the critical middle-order stability that allowed Silva the freedom to attack in the final stages. Perera’s innings represented the kind of structured batting that Sri Lanka had lacked in their previous matches.
Perera’s Role:
- Built partnerships at crucial junctures
- Rotated strike effectively
- Provided platform for acceleration
- Demonstrated composure under pressure
Lower Order Collapse
Sri Lanka’s lower order failed to capitalize on the momentum built by Silva, with several quick wickets reducing what could have been an even more imposing total. However, the 258-run total represents significant progress from their previous performances.
Washed Out. Points Split.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 14, 2025
Official update: The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand match has been called off due to persistent heavy rain. Both teams receive one point.#SLvNZ #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/Z3Ig1SXmuR
New Zealand’s Bowling Performance
Sophie Devine’s Economical Yet Expensive Spell
Sophie Devine proved to be the standout bowler for New Zealand, claiming three crucial wickets including the prize scalp of Chamari Athapaththu. However, her figures of 3 for 54 in 9 overs revealed the challenge of restricting Sri Lanka’s aggressive batting.
Devine’s Impact:
- Removed the opposition captain, Athapaththu
- Took three wickets across the innings
- 54 runs conceded in 9 overs
- Maintained consistency despite expensive spell
Other New Zealand Bowlers
The rest of New Zealand’s bowling attack struggled to find rhythm on the Colombo pitch, which offered excellent batting conditions. The combination of a true surface and Sri Lanka’s aggressive batting made it challenging for New Zealand’s pace and spin bowlers to contain the scoring.
Bowling Challenges:
- Limited assistance from the pitch
- Sri Lanka’s aggressive approach kept scoreboard pressure
- Difficulty building pressure with conventional lines and lengths
- Silva’s aggressive batting prevented death bowling execution
Strategic Analysis: Sri Lanka’s Performance
Breaking the Losing Streak
This performance marked a significant turning point for Sri Lanka in the tournament. After struggling throughout their campaign with losses and a washout, the team finally showed they possess the batting firepower to compete against quality opposition.
Positive Indicators:
- Aggressive Batting Approach: Sri Lanka displayed sustained intent from the opening overs
- Partnership Building: Successful combinations at the top of the order
- Death Overs Execution: Brilliant acceleration in the final stages
- Batting Depth: Contributions from multiple players across the order
Implications for Tournament Progression
For Sri Lanka, this performance provides critical momentum entering their remaining matches. A competitive total like 258 suggests they can trouble quality opponents with aggressive batting if they can maintain this approach consistently.
Tournament Impact:
- Improved net run rate with a competitive total
- Restored confidence after series of poor performances
- Proved they can compete against established teams
- Set a strong foundation for remaining matches
New Zealand’s Chase Status: Rain Intervention
Rain has intervened at the R. Premadasa Stadium just as New Zealand was beginning their chase, creating uncertainty about the outcome of this crucial match.
New Zealand’s Challenge
New Zealand entered this match as favorites, but Sri Lanka’s 258-run total represented a stiffer challenge than many anticipated. The defending champions of recent tournaments would need to chase at a brisk pace to overcome the target, particularly given the pressure of a sold-out crowd supporting the home side.
Chase Requirements:
- Target: 259 runs (258 + 1)
- Run Rate Required: Approximately 5.2 per over
- Expected Duration: 50 overs (full allocation)
- Pressure Factor: Home crowd support for Sri Lanka
Rain’s Intervention and Match Status
The intervention of rain at a critical juncture raises several possibilities:
Potential Scenarios:
- Full Resumption: If rain clears, the match may resume with the full 50-over allocation
- Reduced Overs: Extended rain could result in a reduced-overs chase
- No Result: Persistent rain could lead to no result, affecting both teams’ tournament standings
- D/L Method: If resumed with reduced overs, the Duckworth-Lewis method would apply
The rain intervention comes at a particularly crucial moment, with New Zealand facing a competitive total in hostile conditions with a packed crowd supporting Sri Lanka.
Tournament Context
Sri Lanka’s Struggles
Prior to this match, Sri Lanka had not won a game in the tournament, with their only points coming courtesy of a washout. This performance suggests that with improved batting execution, they possess enough quality to compete against any opponent in the remaining matches.
New Zealand’s Inconsistency
New Zealand has managed only one win from their three completed matches, far below expectations for a team with their pedigree. The encounter against Sri Lanka represented an opportunity to build momentum, though the rain intervention may have disrupted their plans.
Head-to-Head Context
Sri Lanka Women and New Zealand Women have met 13 times in One Day Internationals. New Zealand have dominated the rivalry with 10 wins, while Sri Lanka have registered 2 victories. One match ended with no result.
Despite New Zealand’s historical dominance, Sri Lanka’s performance in this match suggests they are capable of causing an upset if they can continue their aggressive approach.
CWC Women 2025 Updated Points Table as of 14-10-2025
A look at the #CWC25 standings after #NZvSL was washed out 👀📝
— ICC (@ICC) October 14, 2025
Find out how the game unfolded ✍️: https://t.co/XOssZPDNoL pic.twitter.com/BqxmgsdXjh
Individual Performances and Milestones
Nilakshika Silva’s Historic Fifty
Silva’s 26-ball fifty stands among the fastest in Women’s World Cup history, showcasing her aggressive batting credentials and potential as a match-winner in the middle order.
Chamari Athapaththu’s Captaincy Knock
Athapaththu’s composed 53-run innings demonstrated leadership through performance, showing her team that quality batting is possible despite tournament pressures.
Opening Partnership Significance
The 101-run opening partnership between Athapaththu and Gunaratne proved that Sri Lanka’s top order can build substantial partnerships when they bat positively and minimize pressure through aggression.
Expert Analysis and Commentary
Cricket experts have praised Sri Lanka’s batting aggression while noting that their bowling will face a significant test when New Zealand finally begins their chase. The consensus suggests that while Sri Lanka played well, the rain intervention has added unpredictability to an otherwise compelling match-up.
The performance has raised expectations for Sri Lanka’s remaining matches, with many suggesting that if they can maintain this aggressive approach, they remain in contention for the later stages of the tournament.
Statistical Highlights
Sri Lanka’s Innings:
- Total: 258 all out in 49 overs
- Highest Individual Score: Nilakshika Silva (55 off 28)
- Opening Partnership: 101 runs
- Death Overs (last 5): 47 runs
- Final 10 Overs: 80 runs
Fastest Fifties in Women’s World Cups:
- Nilakshika Silva: 26 balls (2025)
- Among the quickest in tournament history
New Zealand’s Bowling:
- Best Performance: Sophie Devine (3-54)
- Runs Conceded: Significant across the innings
- Bowling Economy: Challenged by aggressive batting
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