Women's T20 WC: New Zealand elect to bat against Sri Lanka in Southampton
Southampton, June 16
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the seventh match of Group 2 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, on Tuesday.
After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr opted to bat first, citing similarities with the conditions from the previous match. Kerr felt the surface looked good for batting and backed her side to put up a strong total. While she expected the wicket to slow down slightly as the game progressed, she remained hopeful that it would stay true despite the reduced 40-over format.
Reflecting on New Zealand's previous outing, Kerr admitted the team's fielding standards had slipped. She said dropped catches and inconsistent bowling had cost her side valuable runs, but stressed that it was not a skill issue. Backing the same playing XI, Kerr expressed confidence that her team could bounce back by improving their execution and intensity in the field.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu revealed that her side would have preferred to bowl first had they won the toss. However, she acknowledged the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar conditions and emphasised the importance of playing their best cricket regardless of the circumstances.
Athapaththu also confirmed that Sri Lanka had made three changes to their playing XI. Looking ahead to the contest, she identified bowling discipline as the key area for improvement, saying her side needed to be more consistent with their line and length if they were to challenge New Zealand effectively.
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Kawya Kavindi, Nimasha Madushani, Mithali Ayodhya
New Zealand Women: Isabella Gaze (wk), Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr (c), Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing
— IANS
Reader Comments
I love watching women's cricket grow globally. Both teams have young talent—players like Amelia Kerr and Chamari Athapaththu are great role models for aspiring cricketers everywhere. Hope for a close game!
Honestly, Sri Lanka should have bowled first given the overcast conditions in Southampton. Chamari's team looks a bit unsettled with three changes. Let's hope they put up a fight—women's cricket needs competitive matches! 🤞
Great to see such consistent support for women's cricket from all nations. NZ's fielding issues are a real concern though—dropped catches in T20 can cost you the match. Hope they step up today! 🇮🇳👏
Match reducing to 40 overs might actually benefit the batting team more. NZ has a strong lineup—Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr can accelerate quickly. Sri Lanka needs early wickets to stay in the contest. #WomensT20WorldCup 🌍
I feel for Chamari—she's carrying the team on her shoulders. Sri Lanka needs more players to step up around her. Still, I'd love to see them pull off an upset today! Women's cricket is all about passion and heart 💪✨
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