**ICC Women’s World Cup: England Face Sri Lanka in Colombo**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 10, 2025, 08:22 pm*
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is gearing up for an exciting encounter as England take on Sri Lanka in Colombo. Both teams are eager for a victory to bolster their positions in the tournament standings.
England enter the match on the back of two wins, having convincingly beaten South Africa and Bangladesh in their opening fixtures. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have had a mixed start with one point from a washout against Australia but a disappointing loss to India in Guwahati.
### England’s Game Plan: Target Athapaththu Early
England’s strategy focuses heavily on dismissing Chamari Athapaththu early in the innings. According to England opener Tammy Beaumont, “Chamari will certainly be the one we’ll be desperate to get out. It’ll be really well planned for.”
Athapaththu has been a pivotal figure for Sri Lanka over the past decade, and her performance could very well determine the outcome of this crucial match.
### Bowling Confidence High for England
England’s bowling unit is brimming with confidence after their dominant performances in the opening games. They bowled out South Africa for a mere 69 runs and successfully restricted Bangladesh to 178.
The spinners have been particularly impressive, with Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, and Charlie Dean sharing 14 wickets across the two matches. Their ability to exploit the pitch conditions will be vital against Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
### Key Players to Watch
Apart from Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera poses a significant threat. Ranaweera made headlines by taking three wickets in a single over during Sri Lanka’s opening loss to India.
On the England side, captain Heather Knight has been consistently effective against Sri Lanka. According to ESPNcricinfo, she has scored three half-centuries in 11 innings against them, maintaining an impressive average of 50 and accumulating 350 runs.
### Match Conditions: Pitch, Weather & Head-to-Head
Colombo has experienced dry weather recently, but typical seasonal rain is expected, which may impact play. The pitch is anticipated to offer plenty of turn, while the humid conditions will aid swing bowling.
Historically, the two sides have met 20 times in international competition, with England dominating the record—winning 17 matches, losing just one, and two games ending with no result.
As the teams prepare to battle it out, all eyes will be on key performers to see who can take control and lead their side to victory in this high-stakes World Cup encounter.
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