West Indies maintained their unbeaten run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, securing a commanding five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a low-scoring Group B encounter at the County Ground in Bristol. Driven by a masterclass in T20 bowling from skipper Hayley Matthews, the Windies chased down a modest target of 99 with 23 balls to spare, leaving Sri Lanka’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.
Led by Hayley Matthews, the Windies destroy Sri Lanka batting
Opting to bowl first under slightly overcast skies, the West Indies bowling unit immediately benefited from the “sticky” Bristol surface. Sri Lanka’s top order crumbled inside the powerplay, collapsing to a dismal 9 for 3. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu was dismissed early, but Nilakshika Silva once again rose to the occasion. She fought a lonely battle with a resilient 30 off 26 balls, while Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with 21. However, Matthews completely dismantled the middle order, finishing with exceptional figures of 3 for 15 in her 4 overs. Supported by Karishma Ramharack (2/15), the West Indies women tightly squeezed the scoring rate, bundling Sri Lanka out for just 98 in 19.4 overs.
Veteran Taylor guides West Indies chase
West Indies began their chase positively but suffered a few setbacks. Matthews made a brisk 17 before being run out, while the big-hitter Deandra Dottin fell for 12. Sri Lanka’s spinners, led by Dilhari (2/22) and Athapaththu (1/13), found a sharp turn that unsettled the West Indies as they slipped to 70 for 5. However, the target was too small to defend. The veteran Stafanie Taylor calmly steered the chase with an unbeaten 27 off 25 balls, including a four and a six, while Jannillea Glasgow added steady support with 10 not out as West Indies reached 99 for 5 in the 17th over.
With three wins in as many matches, West Indies women comfortably stride toward the semi-finals. On the other hand, Sri Lanka women must now win their remaining fixtures against Ireland and Scotland to stay alive in the tournament.
Brief scores: West Indies 99/5 (Stafanie Taylor 35*, Kavisha Dilhari 2-22) beat Sri Lanka 98 (Nilakshika Silva 30, Hayley Matthews 3-15) by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews
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