Tag: Chamari Athapaththu

Sri Lanka snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to record their first win of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, edging out Bangladesh by seven runs in a nerve jangling finish in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

With Bangladesh cruising and only nine needed off the final over with five wickets in hand, having mustered just three runs off the penultimate over, Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu took the ball herself and turned the game on its head.

Four wickets tumbled in four balls as Bangladesh collapsed, losing five wickets for just two runs.

Athapaththu, calm amid the storm, finished with career-best figures of 4-42.

The drama began with Rabeya Khan trapped leg-before off the first ball, followed by a run-out next delivery.

Then, Bangladesh’s hopes sank when their captain Nigar Sultana danced down the track only to find long-off lurking.

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When Marufa Akter was adjudged lbw next ball, Athapaththu had conjured the unthinkable, defending nine with a single run conceded in the over.

For once, fortune favoured Sri Lanka, whose campaign had been marred by rain, missed chances and misfiring batters.

Hasini Perera, who struck her maiden ODI half-century, made 85 off 99 balls, peppered with 13 fours and a six.

She was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s 202 all out as she reached the milestone of 1,000 runs in ODIs.

A 74-run partnership with Nilakshika de Silva gave Sri Lanka a solid launch pad, before another collapse saw six wickets fall for 28 run.

Even so, the Sri Lankans held their nerve in the death overs to seal the win and climb to sixth in the standings.

With four points, they are level with New Zealand and India, although will need results to go in their favour to grab the last semi-final spot.

Australia, South Africa and England have already booked their places in the last four.

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DUBAI: Chamari Athapaththu on Tuesday, scripted history when she became the first Sri Lankan to top the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. 

Chamari Athapaththu claimed the top spot from Australian opener Beth Mooney on the back of her excellent series against New Zealand that netted a total of 248 runs from three matches and included an amazing knock of 140* from just 80 deliveries that helped her side record an unlikely series triumph.

It was the first time that Sri Lanka had beaten New Zealand in a bilateral women’s ODI series and it was on the back of a mountain of runs from their inspirational skipper in Chamari Athapaththu.

The 33-year-old hit an unbeaten 108* in the opening match of the three-game series and a first-ball duck in the second clash did little to temper the aggression of the confident left-hander heading into the series decider.

Chamari Athapaththu smashed nine massive sixes during her quickfire knock, combining with teammate Nilakshi de Silva to record Sri Lanka’s highest ever partnership in women’s ODIs when putting on 190 runs for the third wicket.

It helped Athapaththu become the first Sri Lankan women to top the women’s ODI rankings, joining male compatriot Sanath Jayasuriya as the only two players from the island nation to have held the No.1 spot in the history of the ODI rankings.

There was some joy for New Zealand despite the series loss, with skipper Sophie Devine jumping six places to 13th overall on the list for ODI batters on the back of her 194 runs for the series and experienced seamer Lea Tahuhu moving up three spots to equal 14th on the ODI bowler rankings following her five wickets over the three matches.

There was also some movement following the completion of the three-match ODI series between the West Indies and Ireland in the Caribbean, with Stafanie Taylor (up one spot to ninth) and Gaby Lewis (up five places to 21st) the biggest eye catchers on the batter rankings and Shamilia Connell (up four spots to 24th) the biggest mover on the list for bowlers.

The first T20I in the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia saw some movement on the latest T20I rankings, with in-form all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner moving up one place to sixth overall and a new career best rating on the updated list for batters.

England counterpart Sophia Dunkley moved up four places to 16th on the same list, while spinner Sarah Glenn (up one spot to third) and Jess Jonassen (up four spots to 18th) made their move up the rankings for T20I bowlers.

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KARACHI: The Sri Lanka Women’s National Cricket Team’s captain Chamari Athapaththu claimed that she is only focusing on the all-important upcoming series against Pakistan, scheduled to commence on May 24.

Athapaththu, who is leading the side on Sri Lanka’s first tour to Pakistan for a bilateral series, claimed that her sole focus is only on cricket as she has no control over the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

“My focus is solely on cricket. I have no control over the current situation of our country,” she said.

“This tour is very important for us since the ODIs are part of the ICC Women’s Championship,” Athapaththu maintained.

Athapaththu further opined about the team’s preparation for the all-important Pakistan series, saying the team features some youngsters and also the team did not play much cricket over the last two years but will be hoping to play good cricket.

“We did not play much cricket in the last two years. Our team also features some youngsters, who are new and unaware of the conditions here. But, we are hopeful of playing good cricket and doing our best on the field,” she stated.

Athapaththu also shared her experience of visiting Pakistan and praised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making good arrangements.

“I am very happy to be touring Pakistan. It is the second time I am visiting the country and it feels really wonderful,” she said.

“The PCB has also made commendable arrangements for us and we feel immensely comfortable here,” she concluded.

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