Sri Lanka's inexperienced top-order was exposed by

Shabnim Ismail in the third over itself, with Lasanthi Madushani (1), playing in her first game of the tournament, squared up to be clean bowled by a superb outswinger. But the innings appeared to be gaining some sort of purpose as Deepika Rasangika (9) played second fiddle to Athapaththu, who played some gorgeous strokes to keep the runs ticking along. That is when van Niekerk announced herself with some teasing legspin bowling. She had Rasangika chip one to du Preez at midwicket to start the slide. Dilani Manodara (1) followed in the next over as Sri Lanka slipped to 43 for three in the 13th over. Dolawatte set about doing the repair work in the company of Athapaththu. The two put on 61 for the fourth wicket to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt but a terrible mix-up saw Athapaththu depart in the 30th over to induce panic in the Sri Lankan ranks. It turned out to be a blow from which they could not recover.