Summary

  • ICC Women's World Cup, Colombo - SL win toss & bowl

  • Sri Lanka need 254 for first win of tournament - captain Athapaththu retires hurt

  • Sciver-Brunt's run-a-ball 117 helps England post 253-9

  • Unchanged England look for third straight win to go top of table

  • Click the 'listen live' icon at the top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

  • Get Involved - #bbccricket, WhatsApp 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only - charged at standard message rate)

Sciver-Brunt hits 117 to reach fifth world cup century 'in grand style'

Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. SL 18-0

    Target 254

    Chamari Athapaththu jogs a single and then lies down on her front, whipping off her gloves and pointing to her right hamstring.

    A physio has come out and a leg is being stretched.

  2. Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Lauren Bell has the highest release point of any seamer in the competition (1.97m)

  3. SL 17-0

    Target 254

    A bit messy from Lauren Bell. Three wides make it a nine-ball over and a rogue shorter delivery races away to the rope, Hasini Perera picking up her first boundary.

    In other news, I've finally realised what Sri Lanka's kit reminds me of and it's Boca Juniors.

  4. SL 10-0

    Target 254

    Chamari Athapaththu puts an end to Sri Lanka's binary cricket, taking one step down and banging Linsey Smith down the ground for four. Smith watches the ball fly away with an "ooooooh".

  5. Lisa Sthalekar
    Ex-Australia all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I do think there is an opportunity for Lauren Bell to get the ball to go away and then bring one nice and full and shape it back. Athapaththu has a tendency to fall over her pads whilst trying to clip it to the leg side, so there is a chance to get her lbw or bowled.

  6. SL 5-0

    Target 254

    Lovely bowling from Lauren Bell, getting the ball to move away from Chamari Athapaththu to start the over.

    She finishes it with a full delivery, the Sri Lanka skipper jabbing her bat down to block it.

    Two singles.

  7. Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Linsey Smith has found 2.2° of drift on average so far in this tournament. Only South Africa’s Chloe Tryon has found more.

  8. Lisa Sthalekar
    Ex-Australia all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The main thing here for Sri Lanka is to hit with the full face of the bat and not close the face and try to hit with the swing or the spin, just try and hit through the line, and it shouldn't get you into too much trouble.

  9. SL 3-0

    Target 254

    Well, no wickets for Linsey Smith in her first over of the day but it's a tight start.

    A single apiece for Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu. The latter's is a little dicey - looping an iffy edge back over the bowler - but they all count.

  10. Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Linsey Smith will be itching to get the ball in hand to bowl at the left-handed Sri Lankan openers. In ODI cricket she averages just 11 with the ball against left-handers.

  11. SL 1-0

    Target 254

    A leg bye from Lauren Bell's first over.

    The required run rate for Sri Lanka, if you're interested, is just about five an over so there's no need for them to go mad.

    As expected, Linsey Smith, who's been prolific in the powerplay in this tournament, will take the second over.

  12. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Given how difficult it has been so far to chase over 220 at this world cup, this should be enough for England. NSB to take a hat trick?

    Evan

  13. Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera have made their way to the middle for Sri Lanka.

    Lauren Bell (and you suspect Linsey Smith from the other end) will open the bowling for England.

  14. Right, we're not too far away from Sri Lanka's innings.

    Thumbs up if you think England will win and go top of the table.

    Thumbs down if you think Sri Lanka will chase 254.

  15. So Sri Lanka will have to chase 254 to register their first win of the tournament. It's a much steeper total than they should be facing but all hope is not lost.

    As Matt mentioned earlier, they've previously chased as many as 302 (against South Africa in April 2024).

    And while on that occasion, Chamari Athapaththu put on a batting masterclass (195 not out off 139), they've also shown they can do it without a major contribution from their talismanic skipper.

    At this very ground in May, they chased 276 against India, with half-centuries from Nilakshi de Silva and Harshitha Samarawickrama.

  16. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    NSB is England women's Stokes...

    Evan

  17. 'She's just unbelievable'

    England batter Tammy Beaumont on Nat Sciver-Brunt: "She's just unbelievable and doesn't seem to feel any pressure when batting.

    "I think the way she adapted by starting off aggressively when the ball was skidding on but staying composed and shuffling the lower order shows how good she is and how lucky we are to have her in this team."

  18. Here's a reminder of how the England skipper reached her century.

    Nat Sciver-Brunt top-scored with a run-a-ball 117, including nine fours and two sixes.

    Sciver-Brunt reaches century 'in grand style' with lofted six over extra cover

  19. Thanks Matt.

    It feels as though England have got away with one there.

    253-9 flatters them and Sri Lanka will be ruing their poor fielding - particularly dropping Nat Sciver-Brunt on three - and some questionable field placements at the back end which gave the England skipper the freedom to cut loose.

    That said, Sciver-Brunt was excellent.

  20. I'm backing England after the Nat Sciver-Brunt exploits but you'll have your own thoughts. Elizabeth Botcherby is back to take over from me.