Sri Lanka’s Women’s World Cup campaign has struggled to find momentum, but Chamari Atapattu and her team will be eyeing a turnaround when they face New Zealand at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka’s Women’s World Cup campaign has struggled to find momentum, but Chamari Atapattu and her team will be eyeing a turnaround when they face New Zealand at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
After facing the formidable trio of India, Australia and England in their opening fixtures, Sri Lanka finally see an opportunity to get their campaign going in the eight-nation event.
Tough Start, But Signs of Promise
The schedule offered no favours — India in Guwahati, then back home to take on defending champions Australia and four-time winners England. India and England won convincingly, while the clash against Australia was washed out — perhaps a timely reprieve considering the Aussies’ form.
Still, Sri Lanka have shown flashes of quality amid the setbacks. Against India, they reduced the opponents to 126/6 before a spate of dropped catches let the game slip away. A few days later, déjà vu struck when Nat Sciver-Brunt was put down early and went on to smash a match-winning century for England.
‘Catches Win Matches,’ Reminds Atapattu
Captain Chamari Atapattu, never one to sugar-coat her words, was blunt in her assessment after the England defeat.
Catches win matches, you see,
Atapattu’s presence remains pivotal. When she fires, Sri Lanka flourish; when she falls early, the innings tends to crumble. The skipper will again carry much of the responsibility with the bat, supported by Vishmi Gunaratne, the 20-year-old prodigy showing signs of becoming Sri Lanka’s next big name.
Belief from the Past
There is reason to hope. Two years ago, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in a bilateral series and later went on to lift the Women’s Asia Cup — milestones that injected belief into a side eager to close the gap on the world’s elite.
With spin-friendly conditions expected at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers will relish the opportunity to trouble the White Ferns, who have traditionally found subcontinental conditions challenging.
A Rebuild in Progress
Missing out on the 2022 World Cup was a major setback, but it also triggered a period of reflection and renewal. Increased investment, exposure, and a more professional approach have since revitalised Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket setup.
A win against New Zealand wouldn’t just get them on the board — it would signal that the rebuild is working, and that Sri Lanka’s women are ready to take the next step in their evolution as a competitive international side.
