Kaushani nuthyangana

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Women's T20 WC: 'It Was A Must-win Game For Us', Says Athapaththu After Victory Over NZ

By IANS News June 16, 2026 • 23:32 PM View: 96

T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu described her side's five-wicket win over defending champions New Zealand as a "must-win" result but insisted there is no room for complacency despite defeating one of the favourites for the Women's T20 World Cup title.

Nilakshi de Silva scored an unbeaten 54, and Kaushani Nuthyangana made a steady 24 not out as Sri Lanka chased down New Zealand's 150/6 with one ball left. This marked their first victory of the tournament.

Athapaththu emphasised the importance of this result for Sri Lanka's chances in the competition. She commended her batting team for sticking to their plans under pressure. "I think it's a good win. It was a must-win game for us, or we would not have had a chance. As a team and batting unit, we executed our plans well. Nilakshi played excellently today. Kaushani is not in her best form, but she contributed well alongside Nilakshi."

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