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England crushed Sri Lanka by 89 runs to notch their third consecutive victory in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 on October 11. Chasing a target of 254 runs, Sri Lanka's innings crumbled, and they were dismissed for just 164 in 45.4 overs. Despite the best efforts of Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33), whose partnership offered a brief hope, their subsequent dismissals ended Sri Lanka's chances of keeping the chase alive.
England thrash Sri Lanka for 3rd straight win
The English bowling attack was spearheaded by the magnificent Sophie Ecclestone, who registered match-winning figures of four wickets for just 17 runs from her 10 overs, which also included three maidens. Earlier in the day, the foundation for England's winning total was laid by Nat Sciver-Brunt. She anchored the innings with a brilliant century, accumulating 117 runs off 117 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, to guide the visiting team to a competitive total of 253/9 in their 50 overs.
Ecclestone's magic and Sciver-Brunt's ton do it for England
Chasing a target of 254 for their first win of the tournament, Sri Lanka suffered a major blow early in their innings when captain Chamari Athapaththu was stretched off the field in the sixth over due to a calf issue. She was temporarily replaced by Vishmi Gunaratne (10 off 9), but Gunaratne’s stay was brief, as Charlie Dean dismantled her stumps in the tenth over. Despite these early setbacks, Hasini Perera (35 off 60) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 37) stabilized the innings with a crucial 58-run partnership off 66 balls, keeping the chase firmly in contention.
With Sri Lanka at 95/2 in 20 overs and looking set to accelerate, Sophie Ecclestone came to England's rescue and immediately proved why she is the number one-ranked ODI bowler. The left-arm spinner broke the partnership by forcing Perera to hit a ball straight to Alice Capsey at mid-on, providing her side with the crucial breakthrough. Ecclestone then accounted for the well-set Samarawickrama, who miscued a pull shot and was caught out at short fine leg.
Ecclestone's relentless pressure continued as Kavisha Dilhari also lost her stumps to the left-arm spinner, who claimed three wickets in as many overs. Sri Lanka quickly slumped to 103/4, at which point captain Athapaththu bravely returned to the crease to continue her innings on 7 (20). However, even she had no answer to Ecclestone’s mystery. The spinner produced a dream left-arm dismissal, cleaning up Athapaththu by bowling her through the gate. As Athapaththu walked back to the pavilion, she took with her the last hopes of the Sri Lankan fans, and the team eventually capitulated for just 164.
Put to bat first, Nat Sciver-Brunt anchored England's innings, hitting her tenth ODI century to propel the team to a total of 253 runs on the board, despite a shaky start that saw both openers dismissed inside the first ten overs. Amy Jones (11 off 13) was lost to an unfortunate run-out, while Tammy Beaumont (32 off 29) failed to convert her start, falling prey to Sugandika Kumari.
With England struggling at 49/2 after 9.3 overs, Nat Sciver-Brunt was joined at the crease by the previous game's Player of the Match, Heather Knight. The duo stabilized the innings, stitching together a 60-run stand off 73 balls and guiding the team's score past the 100-mark. However, Sri Lanka missed a crucial opportunity to break this partnership early, dropping the England skipper when she was only on 3, a moment that ultimately proved to be the turning point of the match. After Knight (29 off 47) was finally dismissed in the 22nd over, England suffered a collapse as no other batter could settle in the middle.
The calm head of Sciver-Brunt proved invaluable, as she guided the lower order to a respectable score of 253. During her innings, she also etched her name into the record books by shattering the record for the most centuries scored in Women’s World Cup history. This was the fifth World Cup hundred for the England captain, surpassing her compatriot Janette Brittin’s tally of four centuries. Sciver-Brunt was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for her stellar knock and her contribution with the ball (2/25 in 5 overs). Following their comprehensive victory, England climbed to the top of the points table with their third consecutive win, while Sri Lanka were left reeling at the second-last spot (seventh) with only one point from three games.
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