Summary

  • Group A, Sharjah

  • New Zealand win by eight wickets after chasing down 116 with 15 balls to spare

  • Plimmer hits 53 off 44 balls and Kerr adds 34* off 31

  • Sri Lanka 115-5 (20 overs): Athapaththu 35 (41); Kerr 2-13

  • Scroll back through live text to watch highlights

Live Reporting

by Tim Oscroft & Tom Rostance

  1. 'Low in confidence'

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Amelia Kerr of New Zealand celebrates with team matesGetty Images

    A good catch and Melie Kerr is on the edge of the ring - she had to time that jump well.

    Harshitha Samarawickrama has to go and she's struggled to get going.

    You feel for Sri Lanka as it's been the theme of the tournament. They have lost lots of wickets in clusters.

    Losing Chamari Athapaththu was massive as the rest of the order is low in confidence.

  2. SL 78-3

    New batter Anushka Sanjeewani almost coughs up a chance first ball but chips just wide of a fielder in the end. Is that pendulum swinging New Zealand's way?

  3. wicket

    WICKET

    Harshitha c Kerr b Kasperek 18 (SL 76-3)

    It this innings going to be a bit of a house of cards?

    That's a rank shot really, no pace on the ball and Harshitha Samarawickrama can only slice the ball apologetically up into the air for Melie Kerr to grab easily at mid off.

    Kerr makes simple catch to remove Samarawickrama

  4. dropped catch

    Dropped catch

    The last ball of that over was actually a chance, Kavisha Dilhari edging through as the ball span but Izzy Gaze couldn't pouch it.

    Tough chance.

  5. 'You should not be swinging at them'

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka is bowledGetty Images

    You should not be swinging at them.

    You should be playing the game which you have played for 13 overs. Which is knock it around nicely and take the boundary if it presents itself.

    Two dot balls and a classic bit of pressure - that wasn't smart from Chamari Athapaththu.

  6. SL 76-2

    Kavisha Dilhari is in at four, it could well be time to start seeing some shots now if Sri Lanka are to bat themselves into contention.

  7. wicket

    WICKET

    Athapaththu b Kerr 35 (SL 74-2)

    Yes. They. Can!

    A big wicket as well. Melie Kerr gets good flight and Chamari Athapaththu, perhaps conscious that it's time to put the pedal down, goes for a big shot and is bowled through the gate.

    Kerr removes surging Athapaththu

  8. SL 74-1

    Melie Kerr has ball in hand again. Can they find a breakthrough?

  9. SL 74-1

    Well bowled! Lea Tahuhu comes around the wicket and cramps Chamari Athapaththu, nearly finding a tickle off the edge as well.

  10. 'Sri Lanka prefer the pace'

    Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka batsGetty Images

    If that's not a sign from Chamari Athapaththu that she was waiting for Lea Tahuhu to come back on I don't know what is! Sri Lanka prefer the pace.

  11. SL 73-1

    Four! Not off the middle but who cares, Chamari Athapaththu throws her bat at it and edges for four. Slashed hard, she's raced to 34 from 34.

  12. SL 68-1

    Great shot! Eden Carson drops short and Harshitha Samarawickrama is able to rock back onto her heels and whip it through the midwicket area for four.

  13. Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    There's been a lot of good bowling that has been used up.

    Rosemary Mair has been New Zealand's standout bowler in this tournament, Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson have been good too.

    They've nearly all bowled three overs each so the back end is looking fruitful.

  14. Sl 62-1

    The score predictor is saying Sri Lanka will hit 136, which will take some chasing.

  15. Athapaththu hits two off-side fours in an over

    Athapaththu hits two off-side fours in an over

    Chamari Athapaththu is getting back on track, playing some nice shots when given the chance.

  16. SL 60-1

    Almost another run out shout at the non striker's end as Muir gets her hand to an on drive but the ball just misses the stumps this time.

    Muir is struggling, either too straight on the pads or too wide outside off stump.

  17. SL 58-1

    Rosemary Mair has been wayward but she's back into the attack after a drinks break.

  18. 57 up at the halfway stage, Sri Lanka will be pleased with that, it's been built on an improved display from captain Chamari Athapaththu.

    Sophie Devine said at the toss that 120 seemed about par and it's bang on track.

  19. SL 57-1

    There is nothing in this docile pitch for Melie Kerr, not much to work with. NZ in defensive mode now.

  20. Tash Farrant
    England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    When Chamari Athapaththu hits the ball it stays hit. It's very annoying as a bowler when you gift the ball.