Sciver Brunt Scores Fighting Hundred, England Make 253 for 9 in Colombo Against Sri Lanka

Nat Sciver Brunt looked confident and calm as wickets fell around her. But, she carried England to 253/9 against Sri Lanka in the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in Colombo on Saturday.

At the start of the 12th match, England were in early trouble. Amy Jones was run out after a mix-up. Tamsin Beaumont followed soon after, caught at backward point while trying to go on the attack. The score looked worrying, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers were on top. 

That was too satisfying for the Sri Lankan team. But Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight brought calm to the England innings. They added useful runs, pushing England past the 100 mark before Knight’s wicket fell to Inoka Ranaweera. The spinner was excellent throughout her spell and finished with three wickets.

Things looked under control of the Sri Lankan women's team. England slipped again after that. Sophia Dunkley was out to a sharp return catch by Kaveesha Dilhari. Ranaweera added two wickets in one over. The pressure kept building, but Sciver Brunt refused to lose focus.

She picked gaps, ran hard, and kept finding singles. Every now and then, she punched one to the fence to release pressure. Her hundred came with a gentle shot off her pads. No big celebration, just a smile and a wave to the dressing room.

Udeshika Prabodhani and Sugandika Kumari added late wickets, while wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani impressed with a quick stumping. Still, England crossed 250 thanks to their captain’s fight.

For Sri Lanka, the bowlers did everything asked of them. Ranaweera and Dilhari were tidy, and the fielding backed them up well. Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s call to bowl first looked smart for much of the innings.

Sciver Brunt’s 117 stood out as a lone act of control in a tough session for England. Her effort gives her team a chance to defend a respectable total under lights, with spin likely to play a bigger part later.

Can the Sri Lanka Women’s team chase it? Watch the live stream of the 12th match of Women's World Cup 2025 on tapmad.