A second of brilliance lit up the R. Premadasa Stadium as Sophie Ecclestone produced a supply worthy of the event to take away Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan skipper and key hope of their Women’s World Cup 2025 chase. With the house facet nonetheless requiring over 100 runs, Ecclestone’s magical spin broke the spine of Sri Lanka’s innings. The group fell silent as Athapaththu’s dismissal marked a decisive turning level within the match.
Ladies’s World Cup 2025: Sophie Ecclestone’s magic ball stuns Chamari Athapaththu
Bowling with impeccable management and guile, Sophie Ecclestone crafted a left-arm spinner’s dream supply. She tossed it up invitingly, drifting it in simply sufficient to tempt Athapaththu right into a assured drive. However the ball had different plans it dipped sharply, gripped the floor, and spun wickedly previous the within edge. In a flash, it sneaked by means of the tiny hole between bat and pad, clattering into the stumps with a thud that silenced Colombo. Athapaththu, who had been combating laborious for her 15 off 39 balls, may solely stare in disbelief. Ecclestone’s response was calm but commanding she knew the importance of that breakthrough. With this wicket, she claimed her fourth scalp of the evening, tightening England’s grip on the competition. A masterclass in flight, flip, and precision Ecclestone as soon as once more proved why she’s the world’s premier spinner in girls’s cricket.
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Additionally READ: Women’s World Cup 2025: Fans erupt as Nat Sciver-Brunt powers England to 253/9 with her record breaking century against Sri Lanka in Colombo
Ladies’s World Cup 2025 ENG Ladies vs SL Ladies, twelfth Match
England posted a aggressive whole of 253/9 of their 50 overs after being requested to bat first by Sri Lanka. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the entrance with an excellent 117 off 117 balls, anchoring the innings as wickets stored tumbling round her. Early on, Tammy Beaumont (32) offered a brisk begin earlier than Sri Lanka struck by means of Inoka Ranaweera (3/33) and Sugandika Kumari (2/66). The center order struggled to transform begins, however Sciver-Brunt’s composed century ensured England crossed 250.
Chasing 254, Sri Lanka’s innings was rocked early when skipper Athapaththu retired harm at 7, dealing an enormous setback. Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) tried to rebuild, however Ecclestone’s good spell (4/17) dismantled the center order. England’s disciplined bowling and tight fielding have stored Sri Lanka in fixed hassle.
On the finish of 37 overs, Sri Lanka are 143/6, nonetheless needing 111 runs off 78 balls with a required run price of 8.53. The duty appears steep as England maintain full management, however Sri Lanka’s hopes relaxation on Nilakshika Silva (15)* and Dewmi Vihanga (3)* to stage a late fightback. With Chamari again after recovering from cramps, Sri Lanka will want one thing extraordinary to chase this down below the lights in Colombo.
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This text was first revealed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times firm.
