Horrific scenes unfolded between the Chamari Athapaththu-led Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team and the Nat Sciver-Brunt-led England women’s national cricket team during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu was taken off the field after being injured at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, October 11.
Chamari Athapaththu was given a stretcher
Batting first in England Women vs Sri Lanka Women, the 12th match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the English team posted a huge score of 253/9 on the board.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front and played an incredible inning of 117 runs. However, he did not get good support from other batsmen, who were out on low scores.
Sri Lanka had a very bad start while chasing the target and their captain and best batsman Chamari Athapaththu got injured in the sixth over itself.
Chamari Athapaththu swept the ball for one run on the third ball of the over. After this she fell face down on the floor and looked in extreme pain. Also, replays showed that she was staggering while taking the single.
The physio immediately intervened and did some stretching and since Athapaththu was writhing in pain, he was stretched and taken off the field. Later SLC issued a statement saying that the batsman is fine.
“Chamari Athapaththu is currently undergoing treatment for cramps in her right leg, which she experienced while batting during the ongoing game between Sri Lanka and England,” SLC said in an official media release.
WATCH: Chamari Athapaththu taken out on stretcher after serious injury in England vs Sri Lanka World Cup clash
Hope everything will be fine, get well soon Chamari Athapaththu pic.twitter.com/UrYQJPQhiA
– Saanvi (@SaanviLaddal) 11 October 2025
Chamari Athapaththu retires hurt 7(20)#sportspavilionlk #CWC25 #SLvsENG #danushkarvinda pic.twitter.com/LnsD5gDgd7
– Danushka Aravinda (@DanuskaAravinda) 11 October 2025
Very confident about my bowling unit – Chamari Athapaththu
Earlier in the match, Sri Lankan Women won the toss and decided to bowl first. Chamari Athapaththu said that he has a lot of confidence in the bowling unit, which is very experienced. He said:
“Want to bowl first. Very confident with our bowling unit. We have a good experienced bowling unit. Conditions are good for spin as well. If we restrict them to 200-240, it will be good. A change for us. We struggled with our batting in the middle overs. Have worked on that. Privilege to play at home for the whole team.”
Meanwhile, England women’s team captain Nat Sciver-Brunt expressed confidence of her team’s good performance while batting first against Sri Lanka. He said:
“Going to bat, quite happy with it. I think it (the pitch) will be good. Third game on it so the idea was to bat first, and hopefully through the day it will slow down and our spinners will come into play. Same team. A brilliant all-rounder for us and balances the team well (Capsie). We have got a few players coming in and helping us in the nets (preparing against left-handers). Definitely. Not taking from.” Anything lightly. They have some great matchwinners in their team and they have some great control over their spinners in the middle.”
Playing XI of England and Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka Women (Playing XI): Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishami Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Neelakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeevani (w), Devami Vihanga, Sugandhika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera.
England Women (Playing XI): Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones(w), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lynsey Smith, Lauren Bell
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