Giant-killers Sri Lanka down New Zealand for maiden T20 WC triumph

Sri Lanka have finally done it! They have beaten New Zealand in the Women's T20 World Cup on their 13th attempt.

An unbeaten half-century from Nilakshika Silva helped Sri Lanka to a five-wicket win.

It has been a tough start for New Zealand, as the defending champions have now lost their first two matches of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka produced a disciplined bowling and fielding performance to restrict New Zealand to 150 for six in their 20 overs.

Amelia Kerr won the toss and New Zealand chose to bat first against Sri Lanka in Southampton.

Mithali Ayodhya gave Sri Lanka the breakthrough in the first over. She got a faint edge off Isabella Gaze, with a great take by wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana.

New Zealand were watchful after losing the early wicket, and after the powerplay, they were 38 for one after six overs.

Kerr and Georgia Plimmer were involved in a 49-run partnership for the second wicket. Nimasha Meepage, making her World Cup debut, struck on her first ball, dismissing Plimmer for 18.

Captain Amelia Kerr led the New Zealand comeback as the defending champions notched 73 for two in 10 overs. New Zealand were 96 for three after 12.3 overs.

A superb running catch by Kawya Kavindi near deep mid-wicket saw the end of Amelia Kerr, after she tried to slog-sweep a flighted delivery by Kavisha Dilhar. 

The Sri Lankan side held on to several difficult catches, successfully blunting the Kiwi firepower throughout the innings. New Zealand had attempted to accelerate late in the innings, with Sophie Devine charging down the track to loft Sugandika Kumari over cow corner for the only six of the New Zealand innings.

However, Kumari ultimately won that duel, dismissing Devine for 45. By the end of the 18th over, New Zealand had reached 139 for five, having shown increased initiative in the final stages.

MOMENTUM SHIFT

In response, Sri Lanka enjoyed a promising start, stepping on the gas during the final two overs of the powerplay.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu struck a significant six in the fifth over, helping accumulate 16 runs, followed by 13 runs in the sixth. However, the momentum shifted when Bree Illing breached the captain's defence, leaving Sri Lanka at 45 for one after the powerplay.

The situation grew more precarious when Amelia Kerr produced a brilliant piece of fielding, nailing a direct hit to run out Hasini Perera, leaving Sri Lanka looking shaky at 53 for three.

Shortly after, the dugout breathed a collective sigh of relief when Georgia Plimmer latched on to a catch to dismiss Vishmi Gunarathne. This followed a difficult period where the defending champions had dropped seven catches in their opening match against the West Indies.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Following a collapse that saw them lose four wickets for 10 runs, slipping from 45 for one to 55 for four, Sri Lanka began a road to recovery.

Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings, taking the score to 94 for four after 14 overs. The partnership was eventually broken by a misunderstanding that left both batters at the same end, resulting in Dilhari being run out and leaving Sri Lanka at 105 for five after 15 overs.

Despite the setback, Nilakshika Silva stood tall for Sri Lanka. She brought up her second half-century in T20Is at a crucial juncture, keeping Sri Lanka within striking distance of victory and eventually securing the win. 

NEW ZEALAND: Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze (wk), Melie Kerr (capt), Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing

SRI LANKA: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, 4 Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Kawya Kavindi, Mithali Ayodhya, Nimasha Meepage