NZ-W vs SL-W 2025, 3rd WT20I Review: Rain plays spoilsport as series ends on level terms

On Tuesday, March 18, at the University Oval in Dunedin, New Zealand Women (NZ-W) and Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) faced off in their final T20I The visitors chose to bowl first after winning the toss.

Starting on Friday, March 21, NZ-W will play Australia Women in a three-match T20I series at home.

The innings got off to a strong start for the Kiwi opening duo of Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates. The duo was thriving, scoring 50 runs in 6.5 overs. Rain soon started to affect the score, though, as it was 60/0 in 7.5 overs. This rain break was the first of many to come.

After a moment, play began, and Bates collapsed to SL-W captain Chamari Athapaththu for 31 off 28 balls after just three balls had been played. Play was interrupted once more shortly after the rain returned. The game was trimmed to 15 overs each side at this point.

NZ-W experienced the same fate as they did following the first break following the second one. Brooke Halliday for a golden duck and Emma McLeod (4 off 5) were the two wickets lost by the home team. Plimmer, on the other hand, was doing well and maintaining her rich vein of form. Plimmer scored three fours and two sixes at 46* off 37 balls when the play came to an end due to the final rain break.

Kavisha Dilhari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, and Athapaththu each took one wicket for SL-W. The Kiwis were at 101/3 at the end of 14.1 overs. Following the home team’s comeback in the second game and the visitors’ decisive victory in the first, the series ended at 1-1.

Because of her all-around play, Athapaththu was named the Player of the Series. During the series, she took two wickets and scored 87 runs overall.

NZ-W had previously won the ODI series by a score of 2-0. The visitors did have something to show for their victory in the opening Twenty20 International before they left for home.