Sri Lanka beat defending champions New Zealand for the first time in Women's World Cup history, chasing down a target of 153 runs with two balls remaining. Kaushani Nuthyangana's four-wicket haul proved decisive in securing the upset victory for Sri Lanka.
The match marked a significant milestone for Sri Lankan women's cricket, ending New Zealand's previously unblemished record against them in the tournament. New Zealand, who entered the match as reigning World Cup champions, set a total of 153 runs for Sri Lanka to chase.
Nuthyangana's bowling performance anchored Sri Lanka's win, taking four wickets to restrict the defending champions to a chaseable total. Her figures proved crucial in keeping New Zealand's score within reach for the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
The successful chase came down to the final over, with Sri Lanka reaching the target with just two deliveries to spare. The narrow margin highlighted the competitive nature of the match, though Sri Lanka maintained composure in the closing stages to secure the historic result.
The victory represents a breakthrough moment for Sri Lanka in women's international cricket. Defeating the reigning champions marks a significant step forward for the program and could shift the dynamics of the tournament standings. For New Zealand, the loss ends their perfect record against Sri Lanka at the Women's World Cup and raises questions about their title defense.