The defending champions were beaten by the West Indies in their opening game, meaning they are now in danger of missing out on the semifinals.
It was Sri Lanka’s first win over New Zealand at a World Cup.
After dropping six catches in their first game, the White Ferns were again guilty of a poor fielding performance in Southampton.
‘‘Catches win matches and no-one means to drop them, but it is now two games in a row that we haven’t been up to a high enough standard,’’ captain Melie Kerr said afterwards.
After deciding to bat in Southampton, New Zealand were again a few runs short of what should have been a winning score, managing 150 for six.
Kerr and Sophie Devine both scored 45, but the middle order was unable to increase the run rate.
Sri Lanka then put on 45 for the opening wicket, and while the White Ferns picked up a couple of wickets, Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana got them home.
Silva finished unbeaten on 54 and Nuthyangana on 24 as Sri Lanka reached their target with two balls to spare.
Nensi Patel took two wickets for New Zealand, who sit fifth in Group 2 with two losses. Sri Lanka are just above them with one win from two games.
The White Ferns probably now need some other games to go their way to make the top two.
‘‘We’ve got to pick ourselves up,’’ Kerr said.
‘‘There are still three games to go for us and three games for our country which are really important and we’re still in this comp.’’
New Zealand’s next game is against Ireland on Saturday before games against Scotland and England.
England made it two from two with a four-wicket win over Ireland yesterday.
After restricting the Irish to 119 for nine, England reached the target in the 18th over, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 48. — RNZ/Allied Media
