In Southampton, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand 153-5 to 150-6, ending the White Ferns’ title‑defence hopes. Both sides had lost their first matches, so a win was vital. Sri Lanka chased 151 in 19.4 overs, taking the target with two balls left. The win keeps them in contention for a knockout spot after a heavy opening loss to England.

Nilakshi de Silva finished unbeaten on 54 from 37 balls, driving Sri Lanka’s top order after an early collapse to 55-4. She paired 50 with Kaveesha Dilhari before the latter was run out. De Silva’s 24 not‑out from Kaushani Nuthyangana pushed the score past the target. The performance underscored Sri Lanka’s resilience after a 120‑run loss to England in the group stage.

New Zealand’s fielding faltered again, dropping three chances in the chase, including Bree Illing’s miss of a short fine‑leg ball that Nilakshi de Silva capitalised on. The White Ferns’ batting was cautious, ending at 150-6 with Sophie Devine and Sophie Kerr scoring 45 each. Their shaky defence now signals a group‑stage exit despite being pre‑tournament favourites overall.