New Zealand Women have historically held the advantage in this rivalry, winning 10 of the 14 Women’s T20 Internationals played between the two sides. They also boast a perfect record against Sri Lanka Women in ICC tournaments. Their most recent meeting at a Women’s T20 World Cup ended in a convincing seven-wicket victory for the White Ferns in Sharjah.
However, recent results suggest that Sri Lanka Women have become a much stronger and more competitive side. They registered a dominant 10-wicket win over New Zealand in Colombo in 2023 and followed it up with another impressive victory at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, in March 2025. Winning in New Zealand was a significant milestone and highlighted the progress Sri Lanka Women’s have made in recent years.
The two teams will meet again on June 16, 2026, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, in an important ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B fixture.
NZ-W vs SL-W Head-to-Head: WT20I Record
New Zealand Women hold a 10-4 lead in the overall Women’s T20I head-to-head record against Sri Lanka Women. They have also enjoyed greater success in the ODI format, leading 13-2, while the overall record across all formats stands at 23-6 in New Zealand’s favour.
However, an interesting trend has emerged in recent years, with all four of Sri Lanka Women’s T20I victories coming since 2023. This highlights the significant progress Sri Lanka Women have made and suggests the rivalry has become far more competitive than the overall numbers might indicate.
Here’s a detailed look at the New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women head-to-head record in Women’s T20 Internationals.
| Category | NZ Women | SL Women |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 17 | 17 |
| Won | 14 | 2 |
| Lost | 2 | 14 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Win Percentage | 82.35% | 11.76% |
| Most Recent Win | 16 Mar 2025 | 14 Mar 2025 |
| Biggest Win (Runs) | 102 Runs | N/A |
| Biggest Win (Wickets) | 9 Wickets | 10 Wickets |
New Zealand Women lead the Women’s T20I head-to-head record 14-2, with one match ending without a result. However, both of Sri Lanka Women’s victories have come since 2023, including a memorable 10-wicket win in Colombo and a seven-wicket victory in Christchurch.
These results underline the progress Sri Lanka Women have made and suggest the rivalry is becoming increasingly competitive despite New Zealand’s overall dominance.
New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women – All WT20I Match Results
New Zealand Women and Sri Lanka Women have faced each other regularly in WT20Is since their first meeting in 2010. Here is a match-by-match breakdown of all their WT20I encounters:
| New Zealand | Sri Lanka | Winner | Margin | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Women | SL Women | no result | – | Dunedin | 18 Mar 2025 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 7 wickets | Christchurch | 16 Mar 2025 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | SL Women | 7 wickets | Christchurch | 14 Mar 2025 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 8 wickets | Sharjah | 12 Oct 2024 |
| SL Women | NZ Women | SL Women | 10 wickets | Colombo (PSS) | 12 Jul 2023 |
| SL Women | NZ Women | NZ Women | 8 wickets | Colombo (PSS) | 10 Jul 2023 |
| SL Women | NZ Women | NZ Women | 5 wickets | Colombo (PSS) | 8 Jul 2023 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 102 runs | Paarl | 19 Feb 2023 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 45 runs | Birmingham | 2 Aug 2022 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 7 wickets | W.A.C.A | 22 Feb 2020 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 7 wickets | Delhi | 15 Mar 2016 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 9 wickets | Nelson | 22 Nov 2015 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 11 runs | Nelson | 20 Nov 2015 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 102 runs | Christchurch | 15 Nov 2015 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 6 wickets | Sylhet | 2 Apr 2014 |
| SL Women | NZ Women | NZ Women | 8 wickets | Galle | Sep 30, 2012 |
| NZ Women | SL Women | NZ Women | 47 runs | Basseterre | 8 May 2010 |
The head-to-head record in WT20Is has largely been one-sided, with New Zealand Women enjoying the upper hand over Sri Lanka Women for most of their meetings. From their first encounter in 2010 through to 2023, New Zealand consistently came out on top, building a strong winning record in the rivalry.
Sri Lanka Women finally made a breakthrough with a dominant 10-wicket victory in Colombo in July 2023 and later claimed another memorable win in Christchurch during the 2025 series. However, New Zealand responded immediately by winning the following match by seven wickets, reinforcing their overall dominance in the matchup.
Their latest meeting in Dunedin in March 2025 was abandoned without a result, leaving New Zealand Women comfortably ahead in the overall WT20I head-to-head standings.
Top Batting Performers in New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women WT20Is
These players have scored the most runs in New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women WT20Is.
| Player | Team | Role / Style | WT20I Runs (vs SL/NZ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzie Bates | New Zealand | Right-handed opening batter (Former Captain) | 605 |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | Left-handed opening batter (Current Captain) | 419 |
| Sophie Devine | New Zealand | Right-handed all-rounder (Former Captain) | 270 |
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Conclusion: A Rivalry That Is Growing More Competitive
New Zealand Women remain firmly in control of this WT20I rivalry, leading the head-to-head record 14-2, with one match ending in no result. For much of the rivalry, the White Ferns have been the dominant side, consistently outperforming Sri Lanka Women in both bilateral series and ICC tournaments. The contributions of Suzie Bates (605 runs) and Sophie Devine (270 runs) have been instrumental in maintaining New Zealand’s superiority over the years.
However, Sri Lanka Women have made significant strides in recent seasons, making the contest far more competitive than the overall record suggests. Their memorable 10-wicket victory in Colombo in 2023 and 7-wicket win in Christchurch in 2025 proved they can challenge and defeat top-quality opposition. With Chamari Athapaththu leading the way with 419 runs in the rivalry, Sri Lanka will be eager to build on those successes, while New Zealand will look to preserve their long-standing dominance when the two teams meet again on the international stage.
