Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone star as England go top

ICC Women's World Cup, Colombo

England 253-9 (50 overs): Sciver-Brunt 117 (117); Ranaweera 3-33

Sri Lanka 164 (45.4 overs): Harshitha 33 (37); Ecclestone 4-17

England won by 89 runs

Scorecard, Table

England remain unbeaten in the Women's World Cup after Nat Sciver-Brunt's sensational century and a remarkable spell of 4-17 from Sophie Ecclestone set up a crushing 89-run win over Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Having put England in to bat, Sri Lanka were left to rue dropping Sciver-Brunt on three, as she punished them with a run-a-ball 117 in England's competitive 253-9.

The game was delicately poised with England 179-6 after 40 overs, but the captain timed her acceleration to perfection with 49 runs coming from the last five.

In reply, Sri Lanka's captain and key batter Chamari Athapaththu retired hurt early in their innings, but fellow opener Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama led a promising recovery to 98-2.

But the co-hosts' lack of batting depth cost them, despite Athapaththu's return to the crease before she fell for 15, and they finished 164 all out in the 46th over, Ecclestone's often-unplayable spell of turn and bounce doing the damage.

England's third win in a row puts them top of the eight-team table, one point above defending champions Australia.

Earlier, Sciver-Brunt played a lone hand as the rest of England's top order made promising starts but were unable to capitalise, with opener Tammy Beaumont's 32 the next-highest contribution.

Amy Jones was run out for 11 and Beaumont was caught in the covers, before Sciver-Brunt and former captain Heather Knight consolidated with a patient stand of 60.

Knight was caught sweeping for 29 and England suffered another middle-order wobble to spin, including the loss of Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey to Inoka Ranaweera in the 35th over.

The discipline of Dean stabilised England again as she added 38 for the seventh wicket with Sciver-Brunt, which allowed the skipper to kick on at the death and ensure they had set a winning score.

England will look to maintain their winning run against Pakistan, also in Colombo, on Wednesday.

Coming into the World Cup, there was concern surrounding the workload of Sciver-Brunt, leading the side for the first time in a World Cup, carrying the weight of the batting line-up and returning to bowl after an Achilles injury suffered during the Ashes.

But she has quietened those doubts, taking a wicket with her first ball back in the opener against South Africa and here notching her fifth World Cup hundred, the most for any woman as she reached the milestone from 110 balls.

The defining moment for Sri Lanka came in the 14th over as Sciver-Brunt drilled Ranaweera to Udeshika Prabodhani at short mid-wicket, struck firmly but at a comfortable height before bursting through the fielder's hands.

Sciver-Brunnr was ruthless in her punishment. She was happy to rebuild after the loss of the openers with Knight, and had to absorb pressure in the middle overs after Sophia Dunkley was caught and bowled for 18, Lamb was bowled round her legs for 13 and Capsey was stumped off a beautiful turning delivery - the only England batter who could realistically say she was out to a good ball.

Vice-captain Dean offered valuable company before Sciver-Brunt picked her moment to unleash her power down the ground and pulled confidently off anything short in a crucial ninth-wicket stand of 36 from 19 balls with Linsey Smith.

Sciver-Brunt's wife - former England bowler Katherine - was in the crowd with their baby boy Theo, and the century celebration was a touching moment, with the captain gesturing to her family like she was rocking him in her arms.

An in-form Sciver-Brunt is likely to hold the key to England's hopes and with figures of 2-25 to follow in Sri Lank's innings, her side are in prime position to head into crunch games against favourites India and Australia unbeaten.