New Zealand women’s cricket team put on a dominant display to secure a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Sunday (March 16). This commanding win leveled the three-match series at 1-1, setting the stage for an exciting decider in Dunedin on Tuesday. The hosts excelled with both bat and ball, restricting Sri Lanka to 113/7 before comfortably chasing down the target with nine balls to spare.
Disciplined Bowling Restricts Sri Lanka to 113/7
Choosing to bowl first, New Zealand’s bowlers set the tone early with tight lines and disciplined lengths, never allowing the Sri Lankan batters to settle. Young pacer Breearne Illing made an immediate impact, claiming a wicket in the opening over and another in the seventh, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 18 in just her second T20I match. All-rounder Brooke Halliday (1/11 in two overs) and Suzie Bates (4-0-16-0) maintained pressure with economical spells, ensuring Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum.
The visitors relied on a 54-run partnership between Manudi Nanayakkara (35 off 32) and Nilakshika Silva (20 off 22) to stabilize their innings after early setbacks. However, crucial wickets, including the dismissal of captain Chamari Athapaththu (23 off 29) by Jess Kerr (2 for 29), kept Sri Lanka in check. A debut wicket for Flora Devonshire further hampered their progress, and they could only manage 113/7 in 20 overs, a total that seemed below par on a decent batting track.
Also READ: NZ-W vs SL-W 2025: New Zealand’s best playing XI for the T20I series against Sri Lanka
Suzie Bates and Brooke Halliday Lead New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing 114, New Zealand had a shaky start, losing Georgia Plimmer for just 4 in the second over and Emma McLeod for 11 off 13 in the seventh, as Sri Lanka’s bowlers fought hard to defend the modest target. However, experienced batter Suzie Bates anchored the innings with a well-paced 47 off 46 balls, ensuring no unnecessary risks were taken. She struck only four boundaries but rotated the strike efficiently, absorbing pressure and building a strong foundation.
Bates’ dismissal in the 15th over, with 29 runs still required, could have put New Zealand in a tricky situation, but Halliday stepped up brilliantly, playing an unbeaten knock of 46 off 40 balls. She struck multiple boundaries in the 16th and 18th overs, accelerating at the right moments to steer New Zealand to victory. Her composure and controlled aggression helped the hosts reach 114/3 in 18.3 overs, securing a comfortable win and ensuring the series would go down to the final match.
New Zealand Bounce Back in Style!
They win the second Women’s T20I in Christchurch to level the three-match series 1-1! #Cricket #NewZealand #SriLanka #T20I #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/73BrcYKYuF
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) March 16, 2025
Also READ: NZ-W vs SL-W 2025: Sri Lanka’s best playing XI for the T20I series against New Zealand
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
