West Indies made it three wins from three in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, beating Sri Lanka by five wickets in Bristol after strangling them to 98 and then edging home at 99 for 5. The result left West Indies joint-top of Group 2 with England, trailing only on net run rate, while Sri Lanka’s hopes of progressing took a significant hit.
Hayley Matthews was central to the win, producing innings-best figures of 3 for 15 as West Indies’ spinners dominated. In the chase, Stafanie Taylor’s calm unbeaten 35 ensured there were no late stumbles after West Indies slipped to 70 for 5.
Matthews and the spinners crush Sri Lanka early
After West Indies put Sri Lanka in to bat, the match was shaped inside the opening powerplay. Sri Lanka were reduced to 24 for 4, a position from which they never truly recovered on a surface where scoring was difficult.
Matthews opened the bowling and struck three times in a three-over spell inside the powerplay, keeping her lines and lengths tight on a tacky pitch. Vishmi Gunaratne offered a leading edge that Matthews plucked out of the air, Chamari Athapaththu went too early on a pull as her left bail was dislodged, and Harshitha Samarawickrama struggled to keep down a cut that went straight to point due to extra bounce.
When Chinelle Henry had Imesha Dulani caught at mid-on, Sri Lanka’s fourth wicket had fallen inside the powerplay with only 24 runs on the board. From there, West Indies’ spin-heavy attack continued to squeeze, with Ashmini Munisar—drafted into the XI to add even more spin—and Karishma Ramharack taking three wickets between them.
Sri Lanka ultimately lost seven of their 10 wickets to spin and were bowled out for 98 with two balls to spare. The innings never found sustained momentum, with only three double-digit partnerships across the full 20 overs.
Nilakshika de Silva provided the lone spark for Sri Lanka, top-scoring with 30 off 26. She featured in stands of 34 and 23 with Kavisha Dilhari and Kawya Kavindi, helping Sri Lanka manage 60 for 3 through the middle overs. But once Nilakshika fell attempting to take on the fielder at deep square leg, the innings ground down again, and the death overs brought only 15 as West Indies tightened their grip.
Chasing 99, West Indies began with a 28-run opening stand between Matthews and Deandra Dottin, giving them a platform in a low-scoring match. Sri Lanka kept chipping away with wickets through the middle overs, and West Indies looked uneasy at times, but Sri Lanka’s profligacy in the field and with the ball proved costly.
Sri Lanka conceded 23 extras in the innings, including 13 wides, and dropped three catches. Two of those drops came shortly after the fall of a wicket, moments when a low chase can swing quickly. There were also close run-out chances that went begging, allowing West Indies to keep moving forward despite the pressure created by Sri Lanka’s bowlers and fielders when they were not making errors.
West Indies slid from 2 for 36 to 5 for 70, and with 29 still needed, the chase could have become tense with another wicket or two. Taylor, however, provided the composure required, rotating the strike and ensuring there were no further hiccups. Her six off a free hit was the only six of the game, underlining her ability to capitalise when the moment presented itself.
Taylor finishes it as West Indies stay perfect in Group 2
Taylor fittingly struck the winning runs to complete the chase at 99 for 5, and was even dropped at midwicket in the closing stages—another missed chance that summed up Sri Lanka’s day. West Indies’ combination of early spin damage, disciplined control through the innings, and Taylor’s calm finish delivered a five-wicket win that kept them level with England at the top of Group 2, while Sri Lanka were left to rue a sub-par total and the opportunities they failed to take.
