England’s juggernaut rolled on at the Women’s World Cup as captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s all-round masterclass and Sophie Ecclestone’s four-wicket haul steered them to an emphatic 89-run victory over Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
The win — England’s third in as many games — kept them firmly on top of the standings and underlined the gulf in class between the two sides.
Sciver-Brunt Stands Tall Amid Early Wobble
England’s innings revolved around skipper Sciver-Brunt’s authoritative 117 off 124 balls, a knock that not only anchored the side but also made history. It was her fifth century in Women’s World Cup history, the most by any player, surpassing Janette Brittin, Charlotte Edwards, and Suzie Bates.
The pitch was a bit stoppy and inconsistent, and their spinners bowled really well. We talked about having a set batter in so the others could accelerate. Scoring down the ground was my best bet. I’m happy I could do that today.
Her innings, studded with 13 boundaries, rescued England after Tammy Beaumont (32) and Amy Jones fell inside the first ten overs. She added 60 runs with Heather Knight (28) to stabilise the innings, before Inoka Ranaweera (3-33) led a spirited Sri Lankan fightback with disciplined spin.
Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Sciver-Brunt’s composure ensured England reached a competitive 253/9, signing off her century with a trademark “baby celebration” — a nod to her upcoming motherhood.
Ecclestone and Sciver-Brunt Seal the Deal
Sri Lanka began the chase steadily through Hasini Perera (35) and Chamari Athapaththu, but the skipper’s early cramps disrupted their rhythm. Forced to retire hurt on 7 before returning later, Athapaththu’s absence unsettled the innings, and from 37/1, Sri Lanka slid to 116/5.
Sophie Ecclestone (4-17) was the chief destroyer, spinning webs around the Lankan middle order. Her accuracy and drift were too much for batters to handle, while Sciver-Brunt and Charlie Dean chipped in with two wickets apiece.
We bowled really good, but dropped one catch — Nat Sciver — and catches win matches. We improved a bit since our first match, but need to execute better next time. As professionals, we can’t have excuses.
Ecclestone’s control, complemented by Sciver-Brunt’s incisive seamers, meant Sri Lanka’s resistance ended at 164 all out in 45.4 overs, with Nilakshika Silva’s 23 being the only other double-digit contribution beyond the top order.
Sri Lanka Rue Missed Chances
Athapaththu admitted that the team’s fielding lapses and lack of finishing hurt their chances. “In the last three overs of their innings, they scored 30–40 runs. That was the difference. We dropped a catch, and we can’t afford that at this level,” she said, adding that her side would “talk about things in the meeting room” before their next game.
Despite the result, Sri Lanka showed signs of fight with the ball. Ranaweera’s control and variation kept England’s scoring in check, while Sugandika Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari also impressed in patches. But against an in-form England side firing on all fronts, it wasn’t enough.
Sciver-Brunt: ‘A special day’
For Sciver-Brunt, the day was one to remember — not just for the record but for leading her side through pressure. “It was special to score a hundred today. The celebration was something I’d thought about before,” she smiled.
“Happy I could contribute again for the team.” With England now three from three and looking every bit a title contender, Sciver-Brunt summed it up best: “It’s about staying composed, adapting to conditions, and putting the team first. We’ve done that really well so far.”
Brief Scores: England 253/9 in 50 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 117, Tammy Beaumont 32; Inoka Ranaweera 3-33, Udeshika Prabodhani 2-55) Sri Lanka 164 all out in 45.4 overs (Hasini Perera 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 33; Sophie Ecclestone 4-17, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-25). Result: England won by 89 runs.
