Women’s T20 World Cup: Big upset for Sri Lanka, defeated New Zealand for the first time in the tournament, defending champion is in danger of being out.

New Delhi. Thanks to Nilakshika Silva’s unbeaten half-century, Sri Lanka overcame difficult conditions to defeat defending champion New Zealand by five wickets in the Group B match of the ICC T20 World Cup. This is Sri Lanka’s first win against New Zealand in the history of this tournament. At the same time, New Zealand is in danger of being eliminated due to its second consecutive defeat. Chasing New Zealand’s target of 151 runs, the Sri Lankan team was in trouble after losing four wickets for 55 runs, but with the 48-run partnership of the sixth wicket between Nilakshika (54 not out, 37 balls, five fours, one six) and Kaushini Nutyangana (24 not out, 14 balls, three fours), the team won by scoring 153 runs for five wickets with two balls remaining.

Nilakshika also made a 50-run partnership with Kavisha Dilhari (17) for the fifth wicket. Captain Chamri Atapattu also scored 27 runs. For New Zealand, off-spinner Nancy Patel took two wickets for 23 runs. Earlier, New Zealand scored 150 runs for six wickets with a 43-run partnership for the third wicket between captain Mellie Kerr (45 runs in 36 balls, five fours) and Sophie Devine (45 runs in 30 balls, four fours, one six).

Bowlers prevented Kiwi team from scoring a big total
Kaweesha Dilhari (two wickets for 35 runs) was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka. Captain Chamri Atapattu (one wicket for 21 runs), Mithali Ayodhya (one wicket for 24 runs), Nimasha Meepage (one wicket for 26 runs) and Sugandhika Kumari (one wicket for 28 runs) took one wicket each. Chasing the target, Chamri and Vishmi Gunaratne (17) made a slow start. Both of them added only 16 runs in the first four overs. Chamri scored 16 runs off Jess Kerr in the fifth over with six sixes and two fours. She also hit a four on Bree Illing in the next over, but was bowled on the next ball. Vishmi also hit two consecutive fours on Elling but was caught by Plimmer off Nancy’s ball.

Hasini Perera (02) was run out while trying to take an unnecessary second run, while Nancy bowled Harshita Samaravikram (05) taking Sri Lanka’s score to 55 runs for four wickets. Kaveesha and Nilakshika took over the innings after this. Nilakshika took the team’s score beyond 100 runs in the 15th over with a six off Rosemary Mayer, but in the same over, Kaveesha became the victim of a misunderstanding and got run out.

The thrill of the last 5 overs
Sri Lanka needed 46 runs to win in the last five overs. Nilakshika got a good companion in the form of Kaushini. Both of them hit fours on the bowling. Nilakshika reduced the gap between ball and runs with two fours off Melli and then completed her half-century in 33 balls with a single off Mayer. Sri Lanka needed five runs in the last over and Kaushini gave the team victory by hitting a four on Divine.

New Zealand won the toss
Earlier, New Zealand, who came to bat after winning the toss, lost the wicket of Isabelle Gage (04) on the third ball of the match, who was caught by wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana on Mithali’s ball. Captain Melli and opener Georgia Plimmer (18) then took the team’s score to 38 runs for one wicket in the power play. Georgia batted slowly while Melli showed pace with two consecutive fours on Mithali. Plimmer also hit fours on Kavya Kavindi and Sugandhika Kumari but failed to convert the strike. Plimmer was finally caught at short third while trying to hit a sharp shot off spinner Nimasha Meepage.

Melli and Divine increased the run pace after this. Both of them hit fours on Kavisha Dilhari. Meli hit another four on Kavisha at deep midwicket, but while trying to repeat the same shot on the next ball, she was caught by Kavindi. New Zealand’s century of runs was completed in the 14th over. Divine hit a six on Sugandhika but was caught by Nilakshika Silva on the next ball. In the end, Maddy Green scored unbeaten 18 runs with two fours in 13 balls and took the team’s score to 150 runs.