England beat Sri Lanka to stay unbeaten at the Women’s World Cup
England cemented their place atop the eight-team table with an 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo, thanks to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s sensational century and Sophie Ecclestone’s spellbinding 4-17. With this win, England moved to three consecutive victories at the tournament, maintaining their unbeaten start as the competition progresses.
Sciver-Brunt stamps her authority with a record-placing hundred
The duel began with England electing to bat, and Sri Lanka’s fielding let them down early when Sciver-Brunt was dropped on 3. She punished the mistake, weaving together a composed 117 from 110 balls to help England reach 253-9. The defining innings showcased her ability to accelerate at key moments: the last five overs yielded 49 runs, turning a steady start into a competitive total.
England’s middle order, under pressure but resilient
Opener Tammy Beaumont offered a promising start with 32, but England’s top order didn’t fully capitalise, and Amy Jones fell for 11. Heather Knight anchored the middle of the innings with a 60-run stand alongside Sciver-Brunt, yet England endured a wobble as Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey fell to Inoka Ranaweera. Knight’s dismissal came while sweeping for 29, and the team looked to rebuild in a pressure-filled middle phase.
Ecclestone’s masterclass with ball seals the result
England captain Sciver-Brunt’s century set the tone, but the match swung decisively when Sophie Ecclestone returned to deliver a virtuoso spell of spin and variation. Her 4-17 showcased a combination of turn, bounce, and control that undid Sri Lanka’s batting line-up, which had started brightly behind captain Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera.
Sri Lanka’s chase falters as England seize control
Sri Lanka, after Athapaththu retired hurt early, looked capable of mounting a chase with Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama sharing a constructive stand. Yet England’s disciplined bowling pinned them back, and Ecclestone’s leg-spinners continued to torment the co-hosts. Athapaththu returned later in the innings but fell for 15, and Sri Lanka were ultimately bowled out for 164 in the 46th over.
Key moments and turning points
A defining moment came in the 14th over when Sciver-Brunt struck Ranaweera to field, turning a potentially dangerous partnership into a breakthrough. In a tight closing stretch, Nat Sciver-Brunt partnered with Debutant Linsey Smith to add 36 for the seventh wicket—an important buffer that allowed England to post a challenging total.
Looking ahead: England’s unbeaten run and looming tests
England head into their next fixtures with confidence, aiming to extend their dominance. Next up is Pakistan, also in Colombo, where England will look to continue their winning form. Sciver-Brunt’s ongoing excellence has been a cornerstone of England’s campaign, with her fifth World Cup hundred underscoring her pivotal role and helping alleviate concerns about workload and pressure on leadership duties.
Quotes from the captains
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt reflected on the conditions: “In the start, it looked fairly easy to score. Then the spin came on, and there was a bit of inconsistency in terms of whether there was spin or bounce and just how it reacted off the wicket. I felt I could accelerate as conditions improved.” Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged the effort: “We bowled really well. We dropped one catch and she scored 100. Catches win matches.”
