Top order fires New Zealand Women to big win

New Zealand's top three struck 139 runs between them off 88 balls to lead the hosts to 188 for 3 in 20 overs, a total that eventually set up a 102-run win. In reply, Sri Lanka's Women never really got going and were kept to 86 with only three batsmen passing double figures.

Having opted to bat, New Zealand Women had a strong start with openers Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest putting on 82 in eight overs. Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, however, broke the partnership off the first ball of the ninth over by trapping Priest lbw for 49. Bates was bowled by another left-arm spinner, Sugandika Kumari, but there was no respite for Sri Lanka. Sophie Devine soon found her range and scored her third T20I fifty. She added 48 with Sara McGlashan before the latter was forced to retire hurt for 20, the only worry for New Zealand on an otherwise perfect day. By the time Devine was out for 54, New Zealand had surged past 170.

Devine then took the new ball and undid Chamari Atapattu for 9; Sri Lanka's score of 11 for 1 soon became 17 for 3 in 5.5 overs thanks to pacer Lea Tahuhu. The middle order was tied down and the innings would have panned out a lot worse if not for knocks from Oshadi Ranasinghe (34) and Ama Kanchana (16).

Five out of six New Zealand bowlers had economy rates under six; debutant Thamsyn Newton finishing with figures of 0 for 16.