Brunt’s record ton helps England beat Sri Lanka

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s record-breaking century and some spin wizardry by Sophie Ecclestone helped England beat Sri Lanka by 89 runs in their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

After being sent in to bat, England posted 253/9 in 50 overs with Sciver-Brunt anchoring the innings.

England lost both openers - Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones - before crossing 50, but Sciver-Brunt steadied the innings and went on to make a run-a-ball 117, hitting nine fours and two sixes.

The knock was Sciver-Brunt’s fifth century in Women’s Cricket ODI World Cups - the most by any batter in the tournament’s history.

She surpassed the previous record of four hundreds held jointly by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, fellow Englishwomen Charlotte Edwards and Janette Ann Brittin.

This was also Sciver-Brunt’s 10th ODI ton overall.

England rebuilt around their skipper’s innings with Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean playing supporting roles and crossed the 250 threshold.

Inoka Ranaweera was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3 for 33, while Sugandika Kumari and Udeshika Prabodhani took two wickets each.

Sri Lanka’s chase was dealt an early blow when captain Chamari Athapaththu had to be stretchered off the field in the sixth over after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury with just 18 on the board.

However, Hasini Perera anchored the Lankan chase and strung together partnerships with Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama.

Charlie Dean dealt the Lankans their first blow after dismissing Gunaratne with a brilliant delivery in the 10th over. It took almost 11 more for the second with Sophie Ecclestone sending back Perera for 35.

Ecclestone then ran riot through the home team’s middle order as she dismissed Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari and Athapaththu, who had returned to bat after nursing what was eventually a cramp, in quick succession.

The English spinner finished with figures of 4 for 17 from her 10 overs.

Sri Lanka slipped from 95 for one to 116 for five and were eventually bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, who had a stellar outing with the bat, also contributed with the ball, taking 2 for 25, while Charlie Dean claimed 2 for 47.

England won by 89 runs to record their third victory of the tournament.

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