New Zealand Women and Sri Lanka Women will face each other in Match 7 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, on June 16. Both teams are searching for their first points of the tournament after suffering defeats in their opening matches.
New Zealand Women came close to victory against West Indies Women but narrowly missed out in a high-scoring contest. The White Ferns showed plenty of positive signs with both bat and ball and will be eager to bounce back quickly.
Sri Lanka Women, meanwhile, endured a difficult start to their campaign and will need a stronger all-round performance to stay alive in the race for the knockout stage. Led by Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka possess enough experience to challenge any side on their day.
Match Details
| Match | New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women, Match 7 |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | June 16, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | The Rose Bowl, Southampton |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
NZ W vs SL W Recent Form
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Women | L, L, W, L, W |
| Sri Lanka Women | L, W, W, W, W |
Although New Zealand have had mixed results recently, they remain one of the strongest sides in women’s cricket. Sri Lanka entered the World Cup with impressive form but struggled in their opening game.
NZ W vs SL W Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 17 |
| New Zealand Women Won | 14 |
| Sri Lanka Women Won | 2 |
| No Result | 1 |
The head-to-head record heavily favours New Zealand Women, who have consistently dominated this matchup over the years.
Team Comparison
| Stat | New Zealand Women | Sri Lanka Women |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 10 | 10 |
| Win Percentage | 60% | 70% |
| Average Score | 159 | 142 |
| Highest Score | 194 | 191 |
| Lowest Score | 80 | 87 |
New Zealand have generally been the stronger batting side, while Sri Lanka will rely on their experienced players to bridge the gap.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 16.5°C |
| Weather | Light Rain |
| Humidity | 63% |
| Rain Chances | 25% |
There is a slight possibility of rain during the match, but conditions are expected to allow a full contest. The cool weather may assist seam bowlers early in the innings.
The Rose Bowl Pitch Report
The Rose Bowl is known for offering a balanced surface where both batters and bowlers can enjoy success. Fast bowlers usually get movement with the new ball, while spinners become more effective as the pitch slows down later in the innings.
Batters who spend time in the middle often find scoring easier once they settle. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first and make use of any early assistance available for seamers.
Venue Statistics
| Record | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 14 |
| Wins Batting First | 50% |
| Wins Bowling First | 50% |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 178 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 147 |
| Highest Total | 248/6 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 163/3 |
| Lowest Defended Total | 162/7 |
The statistics suggest a fair contest between bat and ball, with no major advantage to either batting first or chasing.
Pace vs Spin Record
| Bowling Type | Wickets | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | 81 | 67% |
| Spin | 40 | 33% |
Seam bowlers have enjoyed considerably more success at this venue and are expected to play a major role once again.
Predicted Playing XI
| New Zealand Women | Sri Lanka Women |
|---|---|
| Georgia Plimmer | Vishmi Gunaratne |
| Isabella Gaze (wk) | Chamari Athapaththu (c) |
| Amelia Kerr (c) | Imesha Dulani |
| Sophie Devine | Harshitha Samarawickrama |
| Brooke Halliday | Hansima Karunaratne |
| Maddy Green | Kavisha Dilhari |
| Izzy Sharp | Nilakshika Silva |
| Jess Kerr | Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk) |
| Nensi Patel | Sugandika Kumari |
| Rosemary Mair | Malki Madara |
| Bree Illing | Mithali Ayodhya |
Key Players to Watch
Sophie Devine
The experienced all-rounder remains one of New Zealand’s biggest match-winners. Her ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes her a vital player in this contest.
Amelia Kerr
Kerr’s leadership, batting consistency, and wicket-taking ability make her one of the most complete players in the tournament.
Chamari Athapaththu
Sri Lanka’s captain is capable of changing a match single-handedly. Her aggressive batting at the top of the order will be crucial.
Kavisha Dilhari
Dilhari adds balance to the Sri Lankan side and can make important contributions with both bat and ball.
Probable Best Batter
Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine has the experience and attacking ability to dominate bowling attacks. If she gets through the early overs, she could play a match-winning innings.
Probable Best Bowler
Jess Kerr
Jess Kerr impressed in the opening game and the Southampton conditions are likely to suit her style of bowling. Her ability to swing the ball could create problems for Sri Lanka’s top order.
Match Prediction
Both teams are under pressure after losing their opening fixtures, making this a crucial contest. Sri Lanka have quality players and will look to bounce back, but New Zealand appear stronger on paper with more depth in both batting and bowling departments.
The White Ferns also hold a dominant head-to-head advantage and possess greater experience in handling pressure situations at ICC tournaments.
If New Zealand’s top order delivers and their seamers make use of the conditions, they should have enough quality to secure an important victory.
Winning Probability
| Team | Chance |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Women | 80% |
| Sri Lanka Women | 20% |
Predicted Score
| Innings | Expected Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Women First Innings | 155-165 |
| Sri Lanka Women First Innings | 150-160 |
Fantasy Cricket Picks
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain Choice | Sophie Devine |
| Vice-Captain Choice | Amelia Kerr |
| Top Batter | Chamari Athapaththu |
| Top Bowler | Jess Kerr |
| Differential Pick | Brooke Halliday |
Final Verdict
New Zealand Women enter this match with a stronger overall squad, an excellent record against Sri Lanka, and several proven match-winners in their lineup. Sri Lanka will need a special performance from their senior players to challenge the White Ferns.
Prediction: New Zealand Women to win the match.








