CWC 2025 : Sophie Ecclestone delivers peach of a ball to dismiss Chamari Athapaththu during ENG-W vs SL-W clash

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A moment of brilliance lit up the R. Premadasa Stadium as Sophie Ecclestone produced a delivery worthy of the occasion to remove Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan skipper and key hope in their Women’s World Cup 2025 chase. With the home side still requiring over 100 runs, Ecclestone’s magical spin broke the backbone of Sri Lanka’s innings. The crowd fell silent as Athapaththu’s dismissal marked a decisive turning point in the match.

Bowling with impeccable control and guile, Sophie Ecclestone crafted a left-arm spinner’s dream delivery. She tossed it up invitingly, drifting it in just enough to tempt Athapaththu into a confident drive. But the ball had other plans it dipped sharply, gripped the surface, and spun wickedly past the inside edge. In a flash, it sneaked through the tiny gap between bat and pad, clattering into the stumps with a thud that silenced Colombo. Athapaththu, who had been fighting hard for her 15 off 39 balls, could only stare in disbelief. Ecclestone’s reaction was calm yet commanding she knew the significance of that breakthrough. With this wicket, she claimed her fourth scalp of the night, tightening England’s grip on the contest. A masterclass in flight, turn, and precision Ecclestone once again proved why she’s the world’s premier spinner in women’s cricket.

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England posted a competitive total of 253/9 in their 50 overs after being asked to bat first by Sri Lanka. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front with a superb 117 off 117 balls, anchoring the innings as wickets kept tumbling around her. Early on, Tammy Beaumont (32) provided a brisk start before Sri Lanka struck through Inoka Ranaweera (3/33) and Sugandika Kumari (2/66). The middle order struggled to convert starts, but Sciver-Brunt’s composed century ensured England crossed 250.

Chasing 254, Sri Lanka’s innings was rocked early when skipper Athapaththu retired hurt at 7, dealing a huge setback. Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) tried to rebuild, but Ecclestone’s brilliant spell (4/17) dismantled the middle order. England’s disciplined bowling and tight fielding have kept Sri Lanka in constant trouble.

At the end of 37 overs, Sri Lanka are 143/6, still needing 111 runs off 78 balls with a required run rate of 8.53. The task looks steep as England hold complete control, but Sri Lanka’s hopes rest on Nilakshika Silva (15)* and Dewmi Vihanga (3)* to stage a late fightback. With Chamari back after recovering from cramps, Sri Lanka will need something extraordinary to chase this down under the lights in Colombo.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.