Women’s ODI World Cup: Sciver-Brunt, Ecclestone help England maintain unbeaten run

With a target of 254, the R. Premadasa Stadium, hosting its largest crowd of the tournament, erupted in chants of “Chamari, Chamari” placing their hopes squarely on the shoulders of national talisman Chamari Athapaththu to deliver a famous win against England and secure Sri Lanka’s first victory of the campaign.

Alas, it was not to be.

Sophie Ecclestone spun a web around Sri Lanka, plugging the run flow and taking wickets, including the prized scalp of the captain, to help England stay unbeaten with an 89-run win.

There was early drama with Chamari going down with a cramp and being stretchered off, drawing a collective gasp from those in attendance. While Vishmi Gunaratne fell cheaply, Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 58-run stand offered hope.

Ecclestone was introduced in the 19th over and paired up with Charlie Dean to wreak havoc. Sri Lanka lost its four main batters — including Chamari, who returned in a bid to carry the innings to the end — for just 21 runs, all to Ecclestone. A sulking Chamari could only watch helplessly as the chase dragged out to its disappointing end.

Opting to field after a morning laced with intermittent drizzles, Chamari played to her team’s strength — its bowling. While the bowlers largely maintained neat lines and lengths, the ground fielding left much to be desired.

With the openers sent back in the PowerPlay, a steady 60-run stand between Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt frayed the nerves of the Lankans. Sciver-Brunt led the charge, aided by a reprieve from Udeshika Prabodani at midwicket with just three runs to her name.

It proved costly as the all-rounder registered her fifth ODI World Cup ton, the most in the tournament’s history. She stitched small partnerships along the way to carry England to a score, which proved more than sufficient.

The cradle celebration of Sciver-Brunt, dedicated to her baby Theo, with partner and England great Katherine Sciver-Brunt in the stands, was the icing on top.

The scores: England 253/9 in 50 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 117, Tammy Beaumont 32, Inoka Ranaweera 3/33) bt Sri Lanka 164 in 45.4 overs (Hasini Perera 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 33, Sophie Ecclestone 4/17). Toss: Sri Lanka; PoM: Sciver-Brunt.