NZ-W vs SL-W Match 7 Commentary - Southampton (16 June 2026)

Back of a length, on middle and leg, Nilakshika Silva goes for the pull, gets it away from around the sticker of her bat, in between deep square leg and fine leg. Runs two. 3 needed in 5 balls.

Sophie Devine comes back well. Darts in a yorker, around the pads. Nilakshika Silva fails to flick it away, gets nutmegged and the ball goes back to the keeper. Kaushini Nuthyangana was looking to sneak in a bye but the throw comes in quickly from the keeper and the batters retreat in time. 

Yorker, on off, Nilakshika Silva pushes this towards the right of short covers and crosses for one. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses.  2 needed in 3 balls now.

 FOUR! Sri Lanka Women pull off a historic win as they defeat New Zealand Women by 5 wickets. Good length, on middle and off, Kaushini Nuthyangana flicks this through the square leg region and the ball has raced to the fence for four runs, sealing the game. It is all smiles in the Lankan hut, and a moment the players will remember for a long time.

Good length, slower one, around middle and off, Kaushini Nuthyangana hits this flat to deep mid-wicket for one. 

Slower one, on a length, around middle and leg, Nilakshika Silva gets it away to deep backward square leg for a single to bring up her FIFTY. This has come under immense pressure but she knows that the job is not done yet.

 FOUR! ​​Kaushini Nuthyangana finds the gap for four runs. On a length, around middle and off, Kaushini Nuthyangana gets right underneath it and flicks this in the gap between the long on and deep mid-wicket region for for more runs. 

WIDE! Full and wide down the leg side, Kaushini Nuthyangana misses out on a flick. Wided. 

Full toss, on middle and leg, Kaushini Nuthyangana slogs this to the left of the deep mid-wicket fielder for another single. 8 needed in 8 balls now!

Mair goes full and on middle and leg, Silva gets it away from the inner portion of her bat to long on for one. 

Terrific running between the wickets here. Rosemary Mair dishes this in the line of the stumps, looking to cramp the batter on her leg side. Kaushini Nuthyangana rolls this through mid on towards the right of long on. Silva pushes Kaushini for the second and they comeplete that with ease. 

Tossed up, on off, Nilakshika Silva sweeps this to deep backward square leg for one. 

Fuller, on the pads, Kaushini Nuthyangana smashes this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

 FOUR! Top shot from Nilakshika Silva. Flighted around off, Nilakshika Silva jumps down the ground, stays leg side to the ball and drives this through the covers region for a boundary. 

Tossed up, around off, turning away from the batter. Nilakshika Silva gets an inside edge as she looks to sweep this. The ball goes through her legs to the left of the keeper for one.

Quicker one, on middle and leg, Kaushini Nuthyangana rolls this to long on for one. 

 FOUR! Another misfield and one turns to four here. Tossed up, around off, Nilakshika Silva goes down on her knee and sweeps this straight to the deep backward square leg fielder. The fielder fumbles and the ball bounces over the fence for four more runs. 

Full and wide outside off, Kaushini Nuthyangana moves away from her stumps and swings at it but misses out.

Good length, on middle and off, Kaushini Nuthyangana pushes this through covers for a single. 

WIDE! Bumper, way too short on the batter. Nilakshika Silva sits underneath it. Wided.

Bree bowls it on a hard length, going down the leg side. Nilakshika Silva down the ground and away from her stumps to free her arms with a lofted stroke over cover but misses out.

 FOUR! Silva gets cheeky and is rewarded as well. Silva celebrates this boundary as a winning stroke too. Such is the tense atmosphere here. Good length, around off, Nilakshika Silva shuffles across the stumps and ramps this over a very fine short fine leg fielder for four runs. 

On a length, around off, Nilakshika Silva chops this off her underedge towards short third for one. A fumble as Silva was keen on the second but had to retreat. 

 FOUR! This is exactly what the doctor ordered for SL. Full and wide outside off, Kaushini Nuthyangana drags this with a slog in the gap between the long on and deep mid-wicket fielder for four runs. 

Fuller on the pads, Kaushini Nuthyangana flicks this through mid on and settles for one. 

Flighted around middle and leg, Nilakshika Silva jumps close to the pitch of the ball and slogs this to wide long on for a single. 

Tossed up, around off, turning back into the batter. Kaushini Nuthyangana sweeps this one. Gets it top-edged through square leg for a couple of runs. 

Fuller on middle and off, Kaushini Nuthyangana sweeps this in front of square towards the deep mid-wicket region for a single. 

Fuller around the leg stump, Nilakshika Silva shuffles a long way across and sweeps this to deep backward square leg for a single. 

Floated across the batter, on off, Kaushini Nuthyangana guides this to the left of the short third fielder for one run. 

Slower one, back of a length and outside off, Nilakshika Silva backs away and cuts it to point.

Buzzers! Fuller delivery, around off, Nilakshika Silva shapes for the reverse scoop but toe-ends it towards point and sets off for the single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses and Maddy Green from long on is a bit late to react and the batters get the extra run.

SIX! Misjudgment in the deep! Pitched up and down the leg, following the batter, Nilakshika Silva uses her feet and whips it towards deep mid-wicket. Sophie Devine is standing a few yards ahead of the ropes and tries to grab it with her outstretched right hand. The ball hits the fingerips and lands on the cushions on the full for a biggie.

Fullish and on off, Nilakshika Silva drills it away to extra cover.

On a length and around leg, Nilakshika Silva clips it through square leg for a brace.

OUT! KAVISHA DILHARI IS RUN OUT! An absolute gift for New Zealand Women. Rosemary Mair lands this on a good length and around leg, Nilakshika Silva clips it towards square leg and turns around for the second run. Jess Kerr from short fine is quick to run towards the ball and seeing that, Dilhari turns back and is caught ball watching and Silva is also at the same end, but Dilhari sacrifices herself here. Kerr throws it at the bowler's end, where Rosemary Mair does the rest. Sri Lanka Women are 105/5, chasing 151 runs.

Fuller and on off, Kavisha Dilhari drills it to short cover and sets off for the single. Maddy Green decides not to have a shy at the bowler's end.

Pitched up and around off, Nilakshika Silva opens the bat face and steers it to point.

Full again and on off, Nilakshika Silva moves across a bit and drives it square towards point, where Nensi Patel lets it through and the batters hesitates for the second but gets it in the end.

FOUR! Excellent shot! A half-volley and around off, Nilakshika Silva backs away to make some room and smashes it past extra cover for a boundary.

Pitched up and on the pads, Nilakshika Silva clips it through square leg for one.

Fuller once more, on off, Kavisha Dilhari comes forward and taps it to short cover. She wants the run but is sent back.

Almost dragged on! Hard length and around off, Nilakshika Silva looks to cut it but gets a bottom edge just past the stumps and to the right of short fine for a single.

FOUR! Cheeky and effective! Fuller in length and around middle, Kavisha Dilhari shuffles across and plays the scoop to perfection past short fine for a boundary.

Pitched up and around off, Kavisha Dilhari drills it hard but straight to extra cover.

Fuller in length and on middle, Kavisha Dilhari backs away and drives it firmly but finds extra cover again.

A slower one, dug into the surface and around off. Kavisha Dilhari moves across for the scoop again but it goes off the top edge onto her helmet and towards short third. They cross.

WIDE! Bangs in a bouncer, on middle, but too high, Nilakshika Silva ducks under it. Wided.

FOUR! Gets it away! Pace off from Devine, serves this one full and on middle. Nilakshika Silva tries to loft it away but her bat turns in her hands. She gets enough to clear mid on and the ball races to the fence for a boundary. 11 runs off the over!

Tossed up, full and on off, Nilakshika Silva uses her feet and lobs it towards mid off, where a fumble allows a single.

Drags her length back and on leg, Kavisha Dilhari rocks back but mistimes the pull through mid-wicket for a run.

Floated, full and on off, Nilakshika Silva gets down and sweeps it to deep square leg for another run.

Flighted, full and around off, Kavisha Dilhari steps out but yorks herself and jams it out to point.

Slower through the air, full and on off, Kavisha Dilhari goes down and slog sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Wrong'un, full and on middle, turns in, Nilakshika Silva swipes it through square leg for one more.

Flighted, full and on middle, Kavisha Dilhari swipes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter, full and on middle, Nilakshika Silva whips it through mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Gets it through! Tossed up, full and on off, Kavisha Dilhari uses her feet but stays leg side of the ball and thumps it past mid off for a boundary.

Short and around leg, Kavisha Dilhari stays back and nudges it through square leg for another run.

Slows it up, shortish and on middle, Nilakshika Silva tucks it with soft hands to the vacant mid-wicket region and comes back for the second run.

Looped up, full and around off, Nilakshika Silva steers it to short third for a quick one. Sri Lanka Women need 81 runs in 54 balls now!

Quicker one, around off, Kavisha Dilhari pushes this back to Kerr.

Pushed through on middle and leg, Dilhari flicks this towards deep mid-wicket region for a single. 

Flighted around off, Nilakshika Silva rolls this back to the bowler. 

 DROPPED​​! Bree Illing has dropped a sitter as it just doesn't come any easier than this. Fuller around off, Nilakshika Silva goes down on a knee and looks to sweep this but gets a top-edge that lobs in front of Bree Illing at short fine leg. Bree runs in, gets underneath the ball but grasses it. 

Full and wide of off, Nilakshika Silva drives this to sweeper cover for a single. 

Tossed up, on the pads, Kavisha Dilhari milks this to the deep mid-wicket region for one run. 

Tossed up, around off, Harshitha Samarawickrama blocks this out.

Fuller on middle and off, Harshitha Samarawickrama goes for a sweep, gets it top-edged towards deep square leg's right for two. 

 OUT! CHOPPED ON! Nensi Patel gets a massive wicket here. Floated around off, Harshitha Samarawickrama looks to punch this through the covers region but gets an inside edge that bounces back onto the stumps and dislodges the bails. Harshitha Samarawickrama will feel unlucky, but she'll have to walk back. 

Fuller on the pads, Nilakshika Silva tucks this through mid-wicket for one. 

Fuller around off, Kavisha Dilhari punches this down to long on for one. 

Tossed up, around off, Nilakshika Silva tucks this to mid-wicke for a dot. 

Short of a length, on middle and leg, Harshitha Samarawickrama pulls this to deep mid-wicket for one.

Quicker one around off, Hasini Perera pushes this in the gap for a single. 

Pushed through around off, Harshitha Samarawickrama blocks this around point. 

Wrong'un around middle and leg, Harshitha Samarawickrama sweeps this to deep backward square leg for one.

Googly, down the leg side, Hasini Perera goes for a reverse sweep but misses and gets hit around her abdomen. 

 OUT! HASINI IS RUN OUT! An excellent piece of fielding from the NZ skipper has sent Perera back here. The keeper almost made a mess of it but a direct hit bails her out. Quicker one around the pads, Hasini Perera tucks this around mid-wicket and calls for two straightaway. Amelia Kerr chases this to her left on her follow-through. The batters do go for the second and Kerr is quick off her feet that she fields it and throws on the turn at the striker's end, hitting the stumps with a direct hit. Izzy Sharp, the keeper's gloves is very close to the stumps but the replay shows that the ball hits the stumps before her gloves. 45/0 becomes 53/3 for Sri Lanka Women.

Tossed up, on middle and leg, Vishmi Gunarathne punches this down to the long on region for a single. 

Floated into the batter, on middle and leg. Harshitha Samarawickrama tucks this around mid-wicket for a dot. 

A tough chance goes down as the bowler herself drops Harshitha Samarawickrama. Tossed up, on middle and off, Harshitha Samarawickrama hits this powerfully back towards the bowler, over her head. Nensi Patel times her jump well but fails to close her grip as the ball bursts through behind. Single taken. 

Full toss, going down the leg side, Vishmi Gunarathne shimmies down the track and looks for a flick but misses. 

 OUT! CAUGHT! New Zealand Women finally hold onto one and Vishmi Gunarathne has to walk back. Fuller delivery, around middle and leg, Vishmi Gunarathne goes down on a knee and looks for the slog sweep towards the mid-wicket region. Miscues this from the cue end of her bat as the ball flies towards long on, where Georgia Plimmer runs forward. Her hands are shaking and the ball goes straight through, but it gets stuck in between her knees and somehow, the catch has been taken.

TWO LEG BYES! Tossed up, down the leg side, Hasini Perera gets it clipped off her pads for a couple leg byes towards fine leg.

 FOUR! The shackles have been broken from both ends. Pitched-up delivery, wide outside off, Vishmi Gunarathne goes deep inside her crease, plays this late and drives this in the gap between point and backward point for four runs to start the 6th over. 

 FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Vishmi. Bree Illing drags her length back here, bowls it slightly on the shorter side on middle and leg. Vishmi Gunarathne collapses her back knee and pulls this over the fielder at square leg for four more runs. 

Good length, on middle and leg, Vishmi Gunarathne flicks this through backward square leg for one. 

 FOUR! Third boundary in this over and Sri Lanka Women are now enjoying a great backend of the Powerplay. A tad full, on middle and off, Chamari Athapaththu plants her front foot towards the leg side and smashes this past the mid on fielder to her right for four runs. 

 OUT! TIMBER! Bree Illing strikes gold by dismissing the Lankan skipper. The lack of footwork is the undoing of Chamari here. Good-length delivery, on middle and off, Chamari Athapaththu just arches back and looks to cut this behind square on off. Fails to get bat on ball as this was too close to be cut. The ball goes past the bat of Chamari Athapaththu and rattles the furniture. Sri Lanka Women lose their skipper as the scorecard reads 45 for 1 after 5.5 overs. 

Bree goes full and in line with the stumps. Harshitha Samarawickrama pushes this back to the bowler. Sri Lanka Women are 45/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

SIX! BANG! Chamari Athapaththu goes big now. Jess Kerr lands this short of a length and outside off, Chamari Athapaththu uses the width on offer, uses her upper body strength to carve it over the deep point fence for a biggie.

Back of a length and around off, Chamari Athapaththu stabs it out to mid off.

FOUR! A boundary now! Fuller delivery but angling down the leg side. Chamari Athapaththu does not miss out and helps it past short fine for four runs.

FOUR MORE! Overpitched delivery, on the pads, another hit-me delivery. Chamari Athapaththu uses her wrists and flicks it away to the deep square leg fence for another boundary.

A yorker now, on middle, Chamari Athapaththu digs it out to mid on.

Fuller and in the slot, on middle, Chamari Athapaththu thumps it past the bowler, and the umpire has to duck as well. Georgia Plimmer from mid on chases after it and dives forward to push it back inside. Two taken. 16 runs off the over!

Lands this on a good length and around leg, gets it to shape in, Vishmi Gunarathne looks to swipe across the line but misses and gets hit on the thigh pad.

FOUR! Up and over! Fuller in length and just outside off, angling away, Vishmi Gunarathne throws the kitchen sink at it, slicing it over backward point for a boundary.

Comes around the wicket, and serves this full, angling into the leg side. Vishmi Gunarathne gets down for the slog sweep but misses to get hit on the pads again.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle and leg, Vishmi Gunarathne pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Fuller delivery and around off, shaping away, Chamari Athapaththu wafts at it from her crease but gets beaten on the outside edge. Too many dots balls creeping in here.

Put down! Not sure what has happened to New Zealand's catching in this World Cup as they are dropping them left, right and centre. Bree Illing lands this short of a length and on middle, Chamari Athapaththu backs away and looks to flat-bat it down the ground but miscues it in the air over the bowler's head. Georgia Plimmer from mid-off runs to her left and tries to grab it with her outstretched hands in front of her, but spills it. This could be very costly for the White Ferns.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Fuller delivery, shaping into the leg side. Chamari Athapaththu picks it off her pads and whips it to the deep square leg fence for the first boundary of the chase.

Good-length delivery, on middle, holds its line, Chamari Athapaththu blocks it out.

Swing and a miss! Slightly fuller in length and on off, angling away, Chamari Athapaththu skips down the track and has a wild hoick across the line but loses her shape and fails to connect.

Back of a length and around leg, Chamari Athapaththu gets tucked up and pulls it through square leg for a single.

Fuller in length and just outside off, shapes away, Vishmi Gunarathne throws her bat at it but misses it.

In the blockhole, on middle, Vishmi Gunarathne jams it out towards mid on for a quick run.

First runs off the bat! Bree Illing begins with a fuller one, on middle, shaping in, Vishmi Gunarathne flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a length and around off, shaping away, Chamari Athapaththu gives the charge again and tries to cut but misses.

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Chamari Athapaththu digs it out to short mid-wicket for a run.

Back of a length and on off, Vishmi Gunarathne stabs it out to extra cover.

Hits the deck hard, on off, takes pace off, Vishmi Gunarathne taps it out towards cover.

WIDE! Bree Illing bangs in a bouncer, on middle, but a bit too high for the batter, Vishmi Gunarathne lets it go. Called a wide.

Much fuller and around middle, Vishmi Gunarathne backs away, crouches low and drills it to mid off.

Rosemary Mair starts with a full delivery, shaping in a bit, Vishmi Gunarathne tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Full again and angling down the leg side, Vishmi Gunarathne fails to glance it away and gets hit on the pads as the ball rolls behind the stumps.

Sri Lanka Women are up and running in the chase! Rosemary Mair sticks to the fuller length, swings in a bit too much. Vishmi Gunarathne misses her flick as the ball goes off her pads towards square leg. A leg bye is taken. 

Back of a length and on middle and off, Chamari Athapaththu gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Touch fuller and on off, moves in a bit, Chamari Athapaththu looks to push it away but gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket.

Rosemary Mair hits the deck hard and on off, angling it away. Chamari Athapaththu charges down the track and slashes at it but gets beaten due to the extra bounce. Just one run off the first over!