Women’s World Cup: Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone Power England to 89-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka
Nat Sciver Brunt’s record-breaking century and Sophie Ecclestone’s 4 wicket haul propel England to third consecutive win, keeping their unbeaten streak alive.
England, Oct 12 : England captain Nat Sciver Brunt delivered a sensational all-round performance, scoring a record-breaking century and taking two wickets, while Sophie Ecclestone claimed 4-17, as England crushed Sri Lanka by 89 runs in their Women’s World Cup clash at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing 254, Sri Lanka’s openers Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu provided a steady start before Perera was stretchered off after pulling a hamstring. Vishmi Gunaratne replaced Athapaththu but was soon dismissed by Charlie Dean for 10. Despite a cautious beginning, Sri Lanka collapsed in the middle overs, losing five wickets for 116 runs by the 28th over. Nilakshika Silva’s 23 was the third highest score, as the team was bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs.
Ecclestone wreaked havoc on the Lankan batting line-up with 4 wickets for just 17 runs, while Sciver Brunt and Dean contributed two wickets each.
Earlier, Sciver-Brunt’s magnificent century powered England to 253, setting a challenging target. Her innings not only anchored the side but also made her the player with the most centuries in Women’s ODI World Cups, surpassing legends Janette Brittin, Charlotte Edwards, and Suzie Bates with her fifth hundred in tournament history.
England’s innings began shakily with openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont dismissed inside 10 overs. Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt then steadied the innings with a 60-run partnership, keeping England competitive despite tight bowling from Sri Lanka. Inoka Ranaweera led the Lankan attack with 3 wickets for 33 runs, supported by Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari, and Udeshika Prabodhani, who chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
Despite the early collapse, Sciver-Brunt remained unbeaten at key moments, ensuring England posted a strong total before being dismissed off the penultimate ball. Ecclestone’s devastating spell with the ball sealed Sri Lanka’s fate, giving England a commanding 89-run victory.
With this win, England maintains their unbeaten streak in the tournament and strengthens their position at the top of the standings.
Brief Scores:
England: 253 all out (Nat Sciver-Brunt 100, Heather Knight 35)
Sri Lanka: 164 all out (Nilakshika Silva 23, Sophie Ecclestone 4-17)
This performance highlighted England’s dominance in the tournament and cemented Sciver-Brunt’s status as a World Cup record-holder.
