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In a remarkable turn of events at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on June 16, Sri Lanka achieved a significant upset by defeating the reigning champions, New Zealand, during the group stage of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.

This victory marked Sri Lanka's first win of the tournament, as they chased down a target of 151 runs, ultimately securing a five-wicket win. Nilakshika Silva played a pivotal role, scoring 54 runs, and her partnership of 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Kaushani Nuthyangana, who contributed an unbeaten 24, was crucial in leading the team to victory with just two balls remaining.

Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka's bowlers, spearheaded by Mithali Ayodhya Bandara, Nimasha Meepage, and Kavisha Dilhari, delivered a disciplined performance, limiting New Zealand to 150 runs for six wickets in their allotted overs. Despite solid contributions from skipper Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine, both scoring 45 runs, New Zealand struggled to build a substantial total.

Sri Lanka began their chase energetically, with openers Vishmi Gunaratne and captain Chamari Athapaththu forming a 45-run partnership before Athapaththu was dismissed, leaving the score at 45 for one. However, the batting lineup faltered, and Sri Lanka found themselves at 60 for four, putting them in a challenging position.

Despite this setback, Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings with a vital 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Unfortunately, Dilhari was run out due to a mix-up, but Sri Lanka remained optimistic about reaching their target.

Nilakshika anchored the innings while Kaushani provided essential support. As the required run rate increased, the duo maintained their composure, with their 48-run partnership proving decisive as they struck calculated boundaries to guide Sri Lanka to a historic win.

As the match drew to a close, the tension heightened with five runs needed off the last six balls. However, Nilakshika Silva and Kaushani Nuthyangana kept their cool, finding gaps for crucial singles before Nuthyangana hit the final boundary to secure the win.

Following their loss to England in the opening match, Sri Lanka's victory revitalized their hopes for advancing to the knockout stage.

Interestingly, rain held off just long enough for Sri Lanka to clinch their victory before interrupting the post-match celebrations. As the drizzle began to fall, the groundsmen were on standby, ready to cover the pitch if necessary. Sri Lanka needed to surpass a 123-run threshold to stay ahead of the DLS par score in case of rain.

Once they crossed that mark, jubilation erupted among the players and fans alike, as the victory was assured even if the match had to be abandoned. The rain intensified right after Nuthyangana's winning shot, adding a poetic twist to the moment.