New Zealand, Sri Lanka shine on first day of T20WC warm-ups
The two teams picked up convincing wins as the opening day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixtures delivered entertaining action.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches got underway with an action-packed opening day in Loughborough and Derby, where New Zealand and Sri Lanka emerged victorious.
Rain and overcast conditions were a constant presence throughout the day in typical English fashion, though the matches managed to produce plenty of positives for teams ahead of the tournament beginning on June 12.
Scotland and South Africa were the winners in the earlier fixtures of the day.
With all 12 teams set to play two warm-up matches each, preparations will continue when fixtures resume on June 8.
New Zealand put on a show against Bangladesh | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
New Zealand put on a super show to win their opening ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixture by 68 runs against Bangladesh.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh
After a delayed toss in Loughborough, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty elected to field first against the defending champions under cloudy skies.
New Zealand’s openers Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates began cautiously before quickly shifting gears, racing to 51 without loss inside the Powerplay. Plimmer took on the aggressor’s role early while Bates gradually found her rhythm.
The opening stand reached 68 before Sanjida Akter Meghla produced a sharp diving catch to dismiss Plimmer for 28.
At the halfway mark, New Zealand were well placed at 77/1, though Bangladesh managed to slow the scoring briefly with a tidy middle phase.
Bates, who looked in great touch, looked set for a half-century before falling for 45 after miscuing a full toss, but New Zealand continued to attack through Izzy Sharp and skipper Melie Kerr.
Izzy Sharp hits a towering six | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Sharp played a brilliant cameo of 46 from just 26 balls, while Kerr was equally brilliant on the other end with a superb unbeaten 51 consisting of 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Flora Devonshire, striking at 250, added a quickfire 20 from only eight deliveries late in the innings as New Zealand finished on an imposing 193/3.
Bangladesh’s chase never fully recovered after losing two early wickets inside four overs. Juairiya Ferdous and Taj Nehar briefly steadied the innings before New Zealand struck in clusters to derail the chase.
Nensi Patel starred with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Lea Tahuhu also made crucial breakthroughs as Bangladesh slipped from 51/2 to 66/5 and later from 92/5 to 118/8.
Captain Nigar Sultana remained unbeaten till the end, but Bangladesh eventually fell well short despite batting through the 20 overs.
A commanding chase from Sri Lanka in Derby | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Sri Lanka cruise home by 9 wickets in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up thanks to a dominant 160-run opening stand between Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunarathne
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
In Derby, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana chose to bat first in the all-Asian contest and got the ideal start through openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza.
Pakistan stormed to 53/0 inside the Powerplay, with Ali taking charge and striking five boundaries during the opening stand.
Sri Lanka fought back immediately after the break as Chethana Vimukthi removed Ali to break the 60-run partnership before wickets continued to tumble across the next few overs.
The Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders steadily regained control despite a brief rain interruption midway through the innings.
Pakistan slipped to 105/6 before captain Fatima Sana counterattacked impressively with 37 from 26 balls. Aliya Riaz supported well during a valuable 41-run partnership that helped Pakistan recover to a competitive total of 168
Vimukthi finished as the standout bowler with figures of 4/31, while Malki Madara, Nimasha Meepage and Sugandika Kumari chipped in with a wicket each.
Chamari takes charge | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Chamari Athapaththu's confident six
Sri Lanka’s response was commanding from the outset.
Vishmi Gunarathne and Chamari Athapaththu made the chase look straightforward, powering Sri Lanka to 64 without loss inside the Powerplay.
Both openers brought up half-centuries as Pakistan struggled to find answers. Athapaththu dominated the scoring and looked set for a century before eventually falling for 94 after a valiant innings.
By then, the 160-run opening stand had effectively sealed the result. Gunarathne remained unbeaten on 63 and fittingly struck the winning runs to complete a dominant all-round display for Sri Lanka.
The comprehensive victory gave Sri Lanka an ideal start to their warm-up campaign, while Pakistan will look to regroup quickly ahead of their final warm-up against Scotland on June 9.