Sri Lanka lead the women's T20I series 1-0 against New Zealand. Photo: X/White Ferns Sri Lanka lead the women's T20I series 1-0 against New Zealand. Photo: X/White Ferns Suzie Bates and Brooke Halliday delivered standout all-round performances, while Bree Illing impressed with a breakthrough bowling display as New Zealand cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. The win at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday (March 16, 2025) leveled the three-match T20I series at 1-1. (Streaming | More Cricket News)
Opting to bowl first, their disciplined attack restricted Sri Lanka to 113 for 7, with Breearne Illing (2 for 18) striking early and Brooke Halliday (1 for 12) keeping things tight. Manudi Nanayakkara (35) and Nilakshika Silva (20) provided resistance, but New Zealand’s bowlers never let them break free. In reply, Suzie Bates (47) anchored the chase, while Halliday (46* off 40) finished the job with ease, sealing victory with nine balls to spare. The series will be decided in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka had won the T20I series opener, coasting to a seven-wicket win against the hosts on Friday. The Lankans chased down a 102-run target in just 14.1 overs, with skipper Chamari Athapaththu staying not out on 64 off 48 balls to take her side to a comfortable victory. Seamer Malki Madara earlier snared three wickets (3/14 in 3.5 overs) to help dismiss the White Ferns for 101 runs in 18.5 overs, and was hence named the Player of the Match.
The home team had claimed the ODI series 2-0, and the win in the first T20I bodes well for Athapaththu's side. Follow the live cricket scores and ball-by-ball commentary from the NZ-W vs SL-W match.
New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Women's T20I: SquadsNew Zealand: Izzy Sharp, Suzie Bates (c), Georgia Plimmer, Emma McLeod, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Polly Inglis (wk), Jess Kerr,ijogo cassino Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing, Flora Devonshire
However, an independent tribunal last week found he was inadvertently given the substance in an over-the-counter spray by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya, Chethana Vimukthibrigadeiropg, Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Kaushani Nuthyangana