Skipper Chamari Athapaththu bludgeoned the South Africa Women’s attack in a blazing 68 off 50 balls as Sri Lanka Women delivered a shock in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 defeating the host country by 3 runs in their opening Group A day-night match at Newlands, Cape Town yesterday.
The 33-year old Lankan captain, the lynchpin of the side produced the exhilarating stroke play that has propelled the left-hander among the top bats women in world cricket as she mauled the South Africa attack to the tune of 12 boundaries to all parts of the Newlands Ground. Sri Lanka Women totalled 129 for just 4 wickets off 20 and had South Africa Women struggling on 126 for 9. Athapaththuu found great support from Vishmi Gunaratne who struck a run a ball 35 inclusive of 4 hits to the ropes before being beaten by a throw.
The Lankan howling attack drove home the advantage in a tight rein over the hosts batting led to Inoka Ranaweera who returned fine figures of 3 for 18 backed by Oshadi Ranasinghe 2 for 20 and Sugandika Kumari 2 for 28. The win put the Lankan lasses on a starting high of 2 points.
CHIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka Women 129/4 (20 Overs) (Chamari Athapaththu 68, Vishmi Gunaratne 35, Anushka Sanjeewani n..o. 5, Ama Kanchana n.o. 4, Martizanne Kapp 1/15, Shabnim Ismail 1/22, Nadine de Klerk 1/38) South Africa Women 126/9 (20 Overs).(Sune Lous 28, Tazmin Brits 12. Chibe Tryon 10, Inoka Ranaweera 3/18, Oshadi Ranasinghe 2/20, Sugandika Kumari 2/28)
