West Indies Women beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

June 21 (Daily Mirror) - The West Indies Women produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka Women by five wickets in their Group B encounter of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the West Indies bowlers, led by captain Hayley Matthews, dismantled the Sri Lankan batting line-up with a disciplined display. Matthews starred with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for just 15 runs in her four-over spell, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for a modest 98 in 19.4 overs.

Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships throughout their innings, with Nilakshi de Silva providing the lone resistance by scoring a determined 30 off 26 deliveries. However, regular wickets prevented the Asian side from posting a competitive total against the relentless Caribbean attack.

Chasing 99 for victory, the West Indies reached the target comfortably, finishing on 99 for 5 in 16.1 overs with 23 balls to spare. Veteran batter Stafanie Taylor anchored the innings with a composed 27 off 25 balls, ensuring there were no major setbacks in the chase.

Kavisha Dilhari offered Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope by taking 2 wickets for 22 runs, but the target proved too small to defend. Hayley Matthews was deservedly named Player of the Match for her match-winning bowling performance, which laid the foundation for a crucial victory for the West Indies in the tournament.