From bowler to blazer: Nilakshika Silva's 26-ball statement to the world

Nilakshika Silva currently holds the record for fastest fifty at this World Cup, this is not something many would have wagered on at any point across this tournament - even less so for the record to be achieved at the Khettarama in Colombo, a ground notorious for its even contests between bat and ball.

Silva's fifty came off just 26 deliveries, putting her eighth on the all-time list of fastest WODI fifties, and is the fastest by a Sri Lankan. The next fastest? It's Silva again, taking just 28 deliveries against India earlier this year.

Both these innings make up half of Silva's fifty-plus scores in WODIs, all of which have come since the start of 2024. At 36, Silva might be at the traditional twilight of her career but she's also at her peak.

Up until 2024, she had scored 520 runs across 29 innings at an average of 21.66. In the little under two years since then she's struck 534 runs in 18 innings at an average of 44.50. Her strike rate in that period has also been impressive, scoring at 84.89, up from 61.97 prior to 2024.

If you take the numbers from 2025 alone, there's an argument to be made for Silva possibly being Sri Lanka's most explosive batter at present, with her striking at 87.66 in WODIs since the start of the year - bettering both Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama.

All of which makes it scarcely believable that she had started her career off as barely a bowler, let alone a batter.

"I was actually a fielder when I first started," recalled Silva, speaking on the eve of Sri Lanka's match against South Africa in Colombo on Friday. "I used to bowl seam, and didn't really see myself as a batter. But then gradually I became more invested in my batting."

And it's safe to say that that investment is now reaping healthy dividends. On Tuesday, Silva walked in with her side on the verge of throwing away a promising platform. The top order had provided stability, if not exactly impetus, but a string of quick wickets had left the innings flagging. But from the very onset of her innings she took the game by the scruff of its neck.

On just her second delivery faced, she left her crease - despite the keeper being up - and met one on the full to punt it over mid-on. On the third delivery, she attempted a scoop, and on the fourth another boundary over midwicket.

Across her 28-ball innings, just four were dots. And by the end she had lifted Sri Lanka to their first-ever 250-plus score batting first at the Premadasa in seven attempts, and their second-highest total in a World Cup.

For Silva, coming in at number six, her role is more often than not one of minimal time, maximum impact. But it's one that she has shown time and again, she's not just happy in, but revels in.

In fact, she has been the common denominator in most of Sri Lanka's most recent successes. Her last fifty in the format came in a successful chase against India, as Sri Lanka hunted down a target of 276. The one before that helped Sri Lanka to their highest total on home soil, posting 275 against the West Indies. And her first ever WODI fifty helped take Sri Lanka over the line in their highest ever successful chase - a target of 302 against South Africa.

And against New Zealand, it was the type of innings this Sri Lankan side had been desperately crying out for, with their average rate of scoring in the death overs lagging massively behind at below five runs an over. Silva though showed the mental toughness to tune out the noise, as Sri Lanka plundered 80 runs off the final 10 overs.

"Even during practice I try and replicate match situations, and in terms of my mindset I think it's been in a good place as of late. Playing at number six is not an easy role, but I have a lot of belief in my ability."

For Sri Lanka though, these performances might be bittersweet, because like skipper Athapaththu, Silva is one of the old guard. However considering how fit she keeps herself, there is certainly no immediate timeline on her career.

"If you hope to play a long career any player needs to focus on their fitness. I actually enjoy my fitness work, so I think that helps a lot in my cricket."