England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored her fifth Women’s World Cup century while Sophie Ecclestone delivered an outstanding bowling performance, leading England to an 89-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday.Sciver-Brunt’s impressive 117 runs from 117 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, helped England reach 253/9. Ecclestone then secured 4/17 as Sri Lanka was dismissed for 164 runs in 45.4 overs.England now leads the eight-team standings with six points after winning all three matches, moving ahead of defending champions Australia who have five points.Sciver-Brunt, who was dropped early at three runs by Udeshika Prabodhani, made the most of her chance to score her tenth ODI century and a record fifth in Women’s World Cups.Sri Lanka’s chase faced an early setback when captain Chamari Athapaththu retired hurt with seven runs in the sixth over due to cramps and had to leave the field on a stretcher.Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama formed a promising 58-run partnership, reaching 95/1 before Ecclestone initiated a collapse.Ecclestone’s exceptional spin bowling caused Sri Lanka to lose three wickets for just eight runs in four overs.Ecclestone dismissed Perera, who was caught by Alice Capsey, followed by Samarawickrama’s wicket with Lauren Bell taking the catch.She then bowled out Dilhari for four runs, leaving Sri Lanka at 103/4 at the halfway mark.Athapaththu returned to bat but quickly became Ecclestone’s fourth victim, bowled through the gate by a sharply turning delivery.Sciver-Brunt contributed with the ball as well, taking 2/25 in five overs, while Charlie Dean secured 2/47 in nine overs.Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who had previously taken four wickets against India, maintained her form with 3/33, including a crucial double-wicket maiden over.Off-spinner Kavisha Dilhari supported well with 1/34 from eight overs, but Sciver-Brunt remained steady despite the regular fall of wickets.England’s innings concluded with Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal on the second-to-last ball, after she helped add 49 runs in the final five overs.England’s innings started poorly, losing two early wickets before Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight stabilized with a 60-run partnership from 74 balls.Knight’s innings ended at 29 runs from 47 balls after a late review confirmed a glove touch on a reverse sweep attempt.Inoka’s impressive 35th over saw her dismiss both Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey, with Lamb bowled behind her legs and Capsey stumped by wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani.Sophia Dunkley scored 18 runs from 30 balls before being caught and bowled by Dilhari, as England lost three wickets for 34 runs between overs 30 and 40.The scoring rate dropped below four runs per over until Charlie Dean hit a reverse sweep to end a seven-over period without boundaries.
