Captain Sciver-Brunt hits ton and takes 2 wickets in England's crushing 89-run win over Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a brilliant century and also picked up two wickets to lead England to an 89-run win over Sri Lanka in their Women’s Cricket World Cup match on Saturday.

England, which lost the toss and was sent into bat, made 253-9 in 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs.

Sri Lanka captain and opening batter Chamari Athapaththu went off with cramp in the sixth over with the total on 7. Vishmi Gunaratne came in at No. 3 and showed positive intent, hitting two boundaries in her 10 runs before being bowled by spinner Charlie Dean.

A 58-run partnership between Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) for the third wicket kept Sri Lanka's hopes alive. But Perera fell after a reckless stroke off left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, caught by Alice Capsey.

Athapathu Sri Lanka's best batter, came back with Sri Lanka on 98 for three but managed only 15 off 39 deliveries before being bowled by Ecclestone.

Ecclestone (4-17) also accounted for Samarawickrama, caught by Lauren Bell. Sciver-Brunt claimed 2-25.

Earlier, England made a promising start before Amy Jones (11) was run out with the total on 24. Tammy Beaumont then scored 32 before miscuing a catch to Samarawickrama.

Heather Knight and Sciver-Brunt shared a 60-run partnership for the third wicket off 73 deliveries before Knight was caught off spinner Inoka Ranaweera.

Sciver-Brunt then added 37 for the fourth wicket with Sophia Dunkley (18).

In the 35th over, Ranaweera struck twice in five deliveries to leave England on 168-6 but the captain added partnerships with the lower order to give her side a good total.

Sciver-Brunt brought up her century with a six over extra-cover and hit three boundaries in the last over before being dismissed off the penultimate delivery. She hit two sixes and nine fours while Ranaweera took 3-33.

England is now top of the standings with six points from three games after adding to previous victories over South Africa and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka is second-from-bottom after losing to India in the eight-nation tournament opener and taking one point after its match against Australia was abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's captain Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrates her century during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

England's captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hits a boundary during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Inoka Ranaweera celebrates the wicket of England's Alice Capsey with teammates during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

England's Emma Lamb looks back after being bowled during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Inoka Ranaweera celebrates the wicket of England's Emma Lamb during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

England's captain Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrates her century during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Jonathan Toews scored for the fourth consecutive game and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2 on Thursday night.

Toews also had an assist, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey each had a goal and an assist, and Tanner Pearson and Logan Stanley scored as Winnipeg tied its season high for goals.

Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves as the Jets won their fourth straight following an 11-game losing streak (0-7-4). Winnipeg is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games against the Wild, including six straight wins in Minnesota.

Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild, who are 1-3-2 in their last six games. Jesper Wallstedt made 14 saves in two periods; Filip Gustavsson had eight in the third.

Minnesota had the game’s first 10 shots on goal, but Winnipeg scored first when, with a two-man advantage, Toews poked in a rebound of Vilardi's shot.

It was the 900th career point for Toews, who last had goals in four straight games in March 2014. He had three goals in his first 42 games this season.

Pearson put home his own rebound with 11 seconds left in the opening period. A one-timer from Morrissey made it 3-0 eight seconds later.

It was the fastest two goals scored since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg. Ron Hainsey and Chris Thorburn scored seven seconds apart for the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 2, 2008.

Yurov got the Wild within 3-1 early in the second period, but Stanley scored on a slap shot, Vilardi on a rebound and Scheifele went bar down later in the frame for his 13th career four-point game.

Morrissey’s assist on Vilardi’s goal gave him 90 career multipoint games, passing Dustin Byfuglien for the most by a defenseman in Jets history.

Jets: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Wild: Begin a three-game trip Saturday at Buffalo.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Winnipeg Jets left wing Cole Koepke (45) tries to slap the puck away from Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) stops a shot as defenseman Jared Spurgeon, left and defenseman Daemon Hunt, second from right, tries to clear Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) and center Gabriel Vilardi (13) from the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets left wing Tanner Pearson (70) hits the puck over Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to score a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, second from right, celebrates with right wing Nino Niederreiter (62), center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) and center Cole Perfetti (91) after scoring against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) scores a goal as he's checked by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)