END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 127/7 | RR: 6.35

  • Harshitha Samarawickrama27 (26b)
  • Achini Kulasuriya1 (1b)
  • Hayley Jensen4-0-16-3
  • Leigh Kasperek4-0-29-0

One-wicket squeaker ahoy: What a finish for the SL men over in Colombo, denying West Indies in the final over!

8.25pm: That looks a little under par, particularly when you remember Sri Lanka were 60 for 0 after eight overs. The openers used the pace in the pitch well, but losing Atapattu just past the halfway mark was really the hammer blow. NZ bowled smartly with the field out, restricted the boundary balls and kept the pressure on; Hayley Jensen was excellent, finishing with 3 for 16 to give her side the edge. Given the power in New Zealand's batting, you'd think they'll fancy this chase... but this is far from a foregone conclusion, so join me again in 15

19.6
2
Jensen to Madavi, 2 runs, bouncer to close out, 114kph and Madavi swings hard, manages to glove it up and over the keeper for a couple - SL have put a score on the board, but is it enough to trouble NZ?
19.5
1
Jensen to Kulasuriya, 1 run, back of a length and Kulasuriya pulls, hits high on the bat for one past the bowler

Achini Kulasuriya is in at No. 9

19.4
1
Jensen to Madavi, 1 run, round the wicket, 110kph, short on leg stump and swung away through square leg
19.3
W
Jensen to Dilhari, OUT, cross-seamer, skids on and hits the splice, lobs a gentle catch into the covers! Third wicket for Jensen as New Zealand continue to finish well under the WACA lights

WK Dilhari c Tahuhu b Jensen 3 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

19.2
1
Jensen to Madavi, 1 run, short of a length, pulled through square leg
19.1
1lb
Jensen to Dilhari, 1 leg bye, on the stumps and whipped for a single

Hayley Jensen to finish the innings

This is already Sri Lanka's second-highest T20I score against New Zealand... but a couple more boundaries here would help ice the cake

END OF OVER:
19 | 4 Runs | SL-W: 121/6 | RR: 6.36

  • Kavisha Dilhari3 (3b)
  • Harshitha Samarawickrama23 (23b)
  • Leigh Kasperek4-0-29-0
  • Amelia Kerr4-0-21-2
18.6
1
Kasperek to Dilhari, 1 run, dragged down, Dilhari rocks back and swings through midwicket, just a single there, too
18.5
1
Kasperek to Madavi, 1 run, slows her pace right up, Madavi settles for steering one more down the ground
18.4
1
Kasperek to Dilhari, 1 run, over the wicket, tossed up full and driven to long-off coming forwards
18.3
1
Kasperek to Madavi, 1 run, flighted, hoicked leg side, into a gap for one
18.2
0
Kasperek to Madavi, no run, loopy offbreak, punched back to the bowler as she comes down
18.1
0
Kasperek to Madavi, no run, lobed up and there's an appeal for lbw as Madavi swings across the line, not given

Dilhari was picked among our ones to watch at this tournament. SL have a couple of overs left to try to grind their way to 130

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 117/6 | RR: 6.50

  • Harshitha Samarawickrama21 (19b)
  • Kavisha Dilhari1 (1b)
  • Amelia Kerr4-0-21-2
  • Sophie Devine3-0-27-1
17.6
1
AC Kerr to Madavi, 1 run, loopy googly, Madavi is hitting against the turn as she sweeps on off stump, just gets one
17.5
1
AC Kerr to Dilhari, 1 run, floated up, spinning a touch and worked to the leg side, they want two but won't get them as Kasperek comes in
17.4
1
AC Kerr to Madavi, 1 run, sliced behind square on the off side, they manage to pinch one
17.3
0
AC Kerr to Madavi, no run, tossed up and tapped back to the bowler
17.2
0
AC Kerr to Madavi, no run, flighted, punched to mid-off

Kavisha Dilhari is the new woman at the crease

17.1
W
AC Kerr to Kanchana, OUT, holes out to deep midwicket! Gone first ball, Kerr strikes again! Couldn't get any power on it, hitting against the legspin and she sent a straightforward catch to Jensen

KADA Kanchana c Jensen b AC Kerr 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Kerr to bowl out, Ama Kanchana the new batter

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | SL-W: 114/5 | RR: 6.70

  • Harshitha Samarawickrama19 (15b)
  • Sophie Devine3-0-27-1
  • Amelia Kerr3-0-18-1

"Seems like the batting is easy upfront but not when the ball is slightly old and wicket seems difficult to bat on," muses Kumar suresh. "Maybe SL should not think of 150 and may be settle for 130. Their spinners will be deadly on this track."

16.6
W
Devine to Silva, OUT, slower ball, top-edged towards point... and taken! Completely done by the lack of pace, big leading edge and it swirled into the off side, Kerr settling safely underneath it

NND Silva c AC Kerr b Devine 4 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

16.5
1
Devine to Madavi, 1 run, full toss on off, Madavi punches through the off side
16.4
1
Devine to Silva, 1 run, poked into a gap at cover point
16.3
1
Devine to Madavi, 1 run, pushed across the left-hander, who slides one to third man
16.2
6
Devine to Madavi, SIX, dug in short, Madavi latches on, heaved over the rope at fine leg! Great connection, using Devine's pace and helping it fly all the way
16.1
1
Devine to Silva, 1 run, waits in the crease and nudges for one

Sophie Devine brings herself back on

Getting tight at the SSC, by the way, SL eight down with 20-odd needed

END OF OVER:
16 | 4 Runs | SL-W: 104/4 | RR: 6.50

  • Nilakshika Silva2 (3b)
  • Harshitha Samarawickrama11 (12b)
  • Amelia Kerr3-0-18-1
  • Hayley Jensen3-0-11-2
15.6
1
AC Kerr to Silva, 1 run, extra bounce again, jabbed away off the back foot into the leg side, Kerr hustles after it and keeps them to one

NZ Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st18RH PriestSFM Devine
2nd40SW BatesSFM Devine
3rd61SFM DevineML Green
4th12KJ MartinSFM Devine