NZ-W vs SL-W: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Women Head-to-Head, Result & Analysis (T20 World Cup 2026)

Amelia Kerr won the toss and chose to bat first on a Rose Bowl surface that looked good for runs. New Zealand looked set for a big total when Kerr and the experienced Sophie Devine were both well set, but Sri Lanka's disciplined bowling pulled things back in the back ten overs.

Sophie Devine top-scored with 45 off 30 balls (four fours, one six), and captain Amelia Kerr matched her with 45 off 36 balls (five fours) before a brilliant running catch ended her innings. A sharp piece of fielding from Sri Lanka — a superb catch off the bowling of Kavisha Dilhari — cut the partnership short at a crucial moment and stalled New Zealand's charge toward 170-plus.

From a position where 165–175 looked likely, New Zealand were restricted to 150/6. Kavisha Dilhari was the pick of the bowlers with 2/35, supported by a wicket each from Chamari Athapaththu, Sugandika Kumari and Sri Lanka's other spinners. Chasing 151, Sri Lanka stayed composed, rotated strike well, and got home with five wickets and an over to spare — a result that sent shockwaves through Group 2.

Before this match, the NZ-W vs SL-W head-to-head firmly favoured New Zealand — which is exactly why this result felt like such an upset. Here is the historical record in Women's T20 Internationals.

New Zealand had won all five previous World Cup meetings, so Sri Lanka's victory on 16 June 2026 was genuinely historic — their first win over the White Ferns at a T20 World Cup. In the overall T20I rivalry, New Zealand still lead comfortably, but momentum and confidence now sit firmly with Chamari Athapaththu's side.

The reigning ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year led from the front with a fluent 45, but was unable to convert the start into a match-defining score. Her leg-spin remains New Zealand's biggest wicket-taking threat. Read our full Amelia Kerr profile and career stats.

The veteran all-rounder's 45 off 30 was the innings' most aggressive knock and kept New Zealand in the contest. Her experience at the death is vital for the White Ferns.

The standout performer with the ball, Dilhari's 2/35 and her side's sharp catching broke New Zealand's most dangerous partnership at the perfect moment.

Sri Lanka's talisman captain marshalled her bowlers superbly and chipped in with a wicket. Her leadership in the field was central to the upset.

New Zealand Women squad: Amelia Kerr (c), Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Isabella Gaze (wk), Polly Inglis, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Molly Penfold, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Emma McLeod.

Sri Lanka Women squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Hasini Perera, Sachini Nisansala, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Dewmi Vihanga, Manudi Nanayakkara, Hansima Karunaratne.

For Sri Lanka, beating a top side like New Zealand is a massive boost to their net run rate and self-belief, and it throws Group 2 wide open. For New Zealand, the 2024 champions, it is an early wake-up call — they will need to tidy up their fielding and find an extra 15–20 runs at the death to avoid further slip-ups. Expect both teams to be heavily scrutinised in the remaining group games, and expect the nz vs sl and nz-w vs sl-w searches to keep trending as the tournament heats up.

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Sri Lanka Women beat New Zealand Women by 5 wickets in Match 7 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, on 16 June 2026.

Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr both scored 45. Devine's came off 30 balls and Kerr's off 36 balls as New Zealand posted 150/6.

In all Women's T20Is the sides have met 17 times — New Zealand have won 14, Sri Lanka 2, with one no result. At the T20 World Cup, New Zealand had won all five previous meetings before Sri Lanka's historic 2026 victory.

The match was played at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, England, the host nation for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

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