West Indies edged closer to the semi-finals after the bowlers ran riot against Sri Lanka

West Indies have boosted their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. They beat Sri Lanka by five wickets at the County Ground in Bristol on Sunday to strengthen their grip on the top two spots. The Caribbean team, along with England, have emerged as strong favorites to finish in the top two.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Women’s World Cup T20: Highlights | Scorecard

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are under pressure as they languish in fifth place in the table, just above Ireland. The West Indies win also increased the pressure on New Zealand, who no longer have their destiny in their own hands. The White Ferns will now need more results to go in their favor if they are to reach the semi-finals.

MATTHEWS, RAMHARACK RULE SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka suffered a horrific batting collapse and were bowled out for 98 in 19.4 overs in Bristol, West Indies. The collapse began almost immediately as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for just nine runs, captain Chamari Athapaththu dismissed for 2 and Vishmi Gunaratne out cheaply, leaving the side under a lot of pressure in the first three overs.

Hayley Matthews led the charge with a brilliant spell of 4-0-15-3 and continued her reputation as a consistent match winner in ICC tournaments. Her early breakthroughs ensured that Sri Lanka never closed in on the partnership. Chinelle Henry and Aaliyah Alleyne backed her efforts and kept the pressure on through the middle overs, while Karishma Ramharack added decisive control with 2.4-0-15-2, helping limit scoring opportunities and forcing errors from the batsmen.

Sri Lanka’s only meaningful resistance came from Kavisha Dilhari, who made 21 off 20 balls, and Nilakshika Silva, who top-scored with 30 off 26 deliveries. However, their efforts were isolated as wickets kept falling at regular intervals, preventing any sustained recovery.

West Indies’ disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured they remained in control throughout, setting themselves a comfortable target of the chase and cementing their dominance in this match from the start.

WEST INDIES FIGHTING BUT AT HOME

West Indies had a few moments of hesitation but still chased down the target in 16.1 overs to record a comfortable victory and consolidate their position in the group stage.

Chasing a modest total, they got off to a steady start as Hayley Matthews blasted 17 off 17 balls to provide early stability before being run out in the fourth over. Deandra Dottin added 12 but Sri Lanka fought back briefly with two quick wickets in the power over to apply some pressure.

Despite these setbacks, Stafanie Taylor anchored the chase with an unbeaten 27 off 25 deliveries, ensuring calm control in a low-pressure chase and guiding her side home with a confident strokeplay. Her innings reinforced her role as a key stabilizer in the middle order and continued her strong tournament form.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers saw some success with Kavisha Dilhari finishing with 2 for 22 while Chamari Athapaththu and Nimasha Meepage also picked up wickets. However, the effort was undermined by 23 extras and a small target.

West Indies completed the chase with almost four overs to spare, highlighting their depth, composure and improved net run rate in the order.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

21 Jun 2026 18:53 IST