6:04pm That will be all from us for this game. A drizzle might delay the start of the second game, but you can stay updated with all that is happening here. Until next time, on behalf of our scorer Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, this is Shashwat signing off. Goodbye and take care, folks!
Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka captain: (Where this win ranks) It is a good win, because it was a must-win for us. As a team, as a batting unit, we executed our plans. Nilakshika played well, and the youngster Nuthyangana as well - she has not been in good form but did the job today. Our fielding coach has done a good job. We have struggled a lot with our fielding but today, we did a good job. Every game is crucial for us. NZ is one of the best teams and the world champions, and the tournament favourites. We beat them, and it means we can beat anyone in the comp - we just need to execute our plans. We need to improve our batting and our bowling a little bit as well.
Amelia Kerr, New Zealand captain: (Batting) Thought the wicket was a touch slower and with the nature of their attack, it made it tougher. Thought 150 was a good score, with big boundaries. We had enough runs, but today, it was again the fielding that let us down. (Difference between sides) They ran really well between the wickets too and that partnership at the end…for us, when I got out, if I had batted a couple more overs to build an even bigger platform, would have been helpful. Still three games to go, three games for our country that are important. We have to pick ourselves up. We are in a good place (with the bat and ball) but that is two games in a row, we have not been up to a high standard (with our fielding).
Nilakshika Silva, Player of the Match: (On if she enjoys playing against NZ) That day (when I got a fifty against NZ in the 50-over World Cup) also I played really well. Today also, I played my normal game and that is it. (Plan when she came out to bat) When I came to the middle, we were under pressure. We played really well in the middle. (Partnership with Nuthyangana) We wanted to rotate strike and wanted to trust our strengths.
Akindu: "Takes a lot of guts to pick yourself up after a disastrous beginning to the campaign and play like SL did today. Amazing win!!!"
Nic: "Wonderful, gritty performance from Sri Lanka. Delighted for them. Especially their very sharp keeper!"
5:18pm Wow. What a run-chase. A run-chase for the history books, and one this team will remember for a long time. Nilakshika was the star of the show, producing a sensational half-century to keep SL afloat and then take them past the finish line. Nerves of steel from Nuthyangana too, who was amazing in the field and just as irresistible with the bat. Props to Athapaththu as well for the start she and Gunaratne gave this SL side, but this run-chase is all about Nilakshika, and about how she turned up when the chips were down.
NZ will be absolutely gutted. But they probably have themselves to blame again. They dropped catches - the most pivotal being of Nilakshika when she was batting on 1 - and were made to pay. Kerr and Devine could also not make inroads with the ball, and all of that snowballed into another defeat that has not left NZ's qualification hopes hanging by thread.
2 off 3. Almost everyone up in the ring now
Right. This has come down to the wire. 5 needed off the final over. Who bowls it for NZ? Devine? Illing? Jess Kerr? Looks like it will be Devine. She has pulled some wins out of the fire this year in franchise cricket. Can she do it again? Keeper is back
Alien: "An over to Devine? Can she recreate what she did for GG in WPL?" -- Could be worth the gamble.
END OF OVER:19 | 11 Runs | SL-W: 146/5 (5 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.68, RRR: 5.00)
- Kaushini Nuthyangana20 (13b)
- Nilakshika Silva51 (34b)
- Rosemary Mair4-1-28-0
- Melie Kerr4-0-24-0
8 off 8. Run-a-ball needed now
The light shower seems to have passed now. 16 off 12. Mair to bowl. SL's game to lose?
END OF OVER:18 | 12 Runs | SL-W: 135/5 (16 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.50, RRR: 8.00)
- Nilakshika Silva49 (32b)
- Kaushini Nuthyangana12 (9b)
- Melie Kerr4-0-24-0
- Bree Illing4-0-33-1
Right. 28 off 18. SL level with the DLS par score, as things stand
END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs | SL-W: 123/5 (28 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.23, RRR: 9.33)
- Kaushini Nuthyangana10 (7b)
- Nilakshika Silva39 (28b)
- Bree Illing4-0-33-1
- Nensi Patel4-0-23-2
Par score after 17 overs is 123
