Relentless rain in Colombo washed out the Women’s World Cup group-stage match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on Tuesday, leaving both sides with a single point and plenty to ponder in their push for a semifinal spot.
Sri Lanka Shine with the Bat Before Rain Arrives
Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 258/6 in 50 overs, thanks to a solid start and a fiery finish. Nilakshika Silva starred with an unbeaten 55 off 28 balls (7 fours, 1 six), capitalizing on a 101-run opening stand between skipper Chamari Athapaththu (53 off 72) and Vishmi Gunaratne (42 off 83).
Hasini Perera added a valuable 44 off 61 balls, helping the hosts set a fighting total before the skies opened. For New Zealand, Sophie Devine led from the front with 3/54, while Bree Illing chipped in with 2/39. But just as the Kiwis prepared to chase, the rain arrived — and never relented. Not a single ball was bowled in their innings.
Athapaththu: ‘We Played Good Cricket’
We assessed the conditions and played good cricket. Happy about our batting performance, but we can’t control the rain. Three games left — we’ll focus on what we can do. The next game is crucial. We need to win all three and hope for clear skies.
Athapaththu also lauded Gunaratne’s return to form after a difficult few months. “Gunaratne is our No. 1 opener. She struggled recently, but we spoke with the selectors and brought her back to open. Nilakshi was brilliant too. That score was defendable — maybe 20–25 runs short, but we were in a strong position,” she added.
Devine: ‘Time to Reassess and Move On’
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine echoed the frustration but took positives from her team’s bowling performance.
Sri Lanka batted well — they probably got more runs than we’d have liked. Shame the weather kept us off; we were excited for the chase. Stats can only go so far — sometimes it’s about gut feeling and reading match-ups. We’ll reassess and move forward.
Race to the Semifinals Tightens
The washout dealt a blow to both teams’ semifinal ambitions. Sri Lanka have now endured two no-results, while New Zealand also remain on the edge of contention. The White Ferns face Pakistan, India, and England in their remaining fixtures, while Sri Lanka take on South Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — all must-win encounters to stay alive.
