Sri Lanka stun New Zealand with thrilling five-wicket win

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Jun 17, 2026

Nilakshika Silva produced the innings of her career as Sri Lanka pulled off a dramatic chase to beat New Zealand by five wickets with two balls to spare in Southampton.

Chasing 151, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 55 for 4 when Nilakshika arrived at the crease. The left-hander responded with a superb unbeaten 54 off 37 balls, guiding her side home with a perfectly-paced knock.

She first rebuilt the innings alongside Kavisha Dilhari in a crucial 50-run fifth-wicket stand. Although Dilhari was run out with Sri Lanka still needing 45 from 30 balls, Kaushini Nuthyangana provided excellent support with an unbeaten 24 off 14 deliveries. Their sixth-wicket partnership added 48 runs from just 28 balls and sealed victory with five wickets in hand.

New Zealand's fielding proved costly once again. Nilakshika survived on 1 when Bree Illing dropped a simple chance at short fine leg, while the White Ferns also struggled in the field during the closing stages as Sri Lanka steadily shifted the pressure.

Earlier, New Zealand managed 150 for 6 after being asked to bat. Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr top-scored with 45 runs each, but Sri Lanka's disciplined bowling attack, led by Kavisha Dilhari's 2 for 35, prevented them from posting a bigger total on a good batting surface.

Nilakshika initially struggled to find boundaries after coming in with Sri Lanka needing 95 runs from 57 balls, but accelerated brilliantly after the 12th over. A six over deep midwicket and a series of timely boundaries kept the chase alive, before two fours off Melie Kerr in the 18th over swung the match decisively in Sri Lanka's favour.

Nuthyangana also starred behind the stumps. The wicketkeeper took three catches, including an impressive low catch to dismiss Isabella Gaze and another effort that resulted in Brooke Halliday's dismissal after a successful review. However, it was her composed finishing act with the bat that capped a memorable all-round performance.

For New Zealand, Devine and Kerr had held the innings together after the absence of Suzie Bates left the batting heavily reliant on experience. Kerr shared a 49-run partnership with Georgia Plimmer, while Devine anchored the middle overs, but 150 ultimately proved insufficient.

New Zealand's bowlers had briefly seized control by taking four wickets for 10 runs between the fifth and ninth overs of Sri Lanka's innings. Offspinner Nensi Patel claimed 2 for 23, while Bree Illing removed captain Chamari Athapaththu for 27 and Melie Kerr produced a direct-hit run-out.

The defeat leaves New Zealand with two losses from two matches and facing must-win encounters against England, Scotland and Ireland. Sri Lanka, after losing their opener to England, are now off the mark and will next face West Indies, with another victory potentially putting them firmly in contention for a semi-final place.