18 Apr Athapaththu Ton Helps SRI Lanka Level ODI Series After Wolvaardt’s Brilliance
POTCHEFSTROOM: In a historic performance, Chamari Athapaththu achieved a career-high score, leading Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over the Proteas Women, overshadowing Laura Wolvaardt’s personal best in a high-scoring final ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25) One-Day International (ODI) in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.
Athapaththu scored the third-highest individual score in Women’s ODI cricket, amassing 195* runs off 139 deliveries (26 fours, 5 sixes), well-supported by Nilakshika Silva (50 off 71; 3 fours). This came in a record-breaking response to South Africa’s formidable total of 301/5, propelled by Wolvaardt’s top score in ODIs (184* off 147 balls; 23 fours, 4 sixes).
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka opted to field first. South Africa made a strong start with openers Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall (31) reaching 46/0 in the powerplay. Wolvaardt accelerated, reaching a rapid half-century off 35 balls, including 24 runs off Kawya Kavindi’s (0/38) fourth over.
In an outstanding partnership, Wolvaardt and Goodall continued to flex their muscles out in the middle to help take South Africa into triple figures to reach the end of the 20th over on 111/0 before Kaveesha Dilhari (2/47) made the all-important breakthrough, removing Goodall, to end the 116-run stand for the first wicket.
The Sri Lankans didn’t have to wait too long for their next wicket as two dismissals arrived in quick succession with Delmi Tucker (1) and Suné Luus (0) departing via a run-out and an LBW off the bowling of Athapaththu (1/59) to leave South Africa 124/3 in the 25th over.
With the hosts three down, the experienced Marizanne Kapp (36) joined Wolvaardt at the crease as the pair continued their fine form from the previous match, combining for an innings-steadying 63 runs for the fourth wicket with Wolvaardt bringing up a second consecutive century and the seventh of her career.
With the home side’s tails up, a mix-up between the two in-batters then resulted in the run out of Kapp in the 35th over following a direct hit from Kavindi before the Proteas advanced to 200/4 after 38 overs.
On the back of Kapp’s departure, Wolvaardt found yet another willing partner in Nadine de Klerk (35) as the pair added a valuable 92-run stand for the fifth wicket to take South Africa to 279/4 before de Klerk became Dilhari’s second scalp of the afternoon.
South Africa eventually ended on a commanding 301/5 after their 50 overs, with Wolvaardt carrying her bat.
In response, Sri Lanka began steadily, with Vishmi Gunaratne (26) and Athapaththu forming a solid opening partnership. They reached 55/0 after 10 overs before Tucker (1/42) dismissed Gunaratne. South Africa continued to pick up wickets, with de Klerk (1/59) removing Prasadani Weerakkody (4), and Ayabonga Khaka (2/54) claiming two quick wickets to mark her 100th cap in ODI cricket.
However, Athapaththu led the charge for Sri Lanka, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 195*. A vital partnership of 179 runs with Silva guided Sri Lanka to victory with 33 balls to spare. Athapaththu was awarded the Player of the Match for her outstanding performance.
Additionally, Wolvaardt received the Player of the Series award for her exceptional batting throughout the series, accumulating 335 runs in three matches, including two centuries.
Audio and video of the post-match press conferences featuring Proteas Women’s Laura Wolvaardt and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu may be downloaded here.
Proteas Women Squad (ODI) – Inbound Tour against Sri Lanka
Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans, Captain), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen* (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso* (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Uncapped*
Results:
T20 International Series
1st T20I
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 79 runs
South Africa: 198/5 after 20 overs; L. Wolvaardt 102 (63), M. Kapp 60 (40); A. Kulasuriya 2/39, I. Priyadharshani 1/25
Sri Lanka: 119 all out after 18.2 overs; H. Samarawickrama 38 (33), H. Perera 30 (18); A. Dercksen 2/15, T. Sekhukhune 2/25
2nd T20I
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 7 wickets
South Africa: 137/8 after 20 overs; A. Bosch 50 (32), M. Kapp 44 (36); A. Kulasuriya 2/26, C. Athapaththu 1/18
Sri Lanka: 138/3 after 18.5 overs; V. Gunaratne 65* (57), K. Dilhari 45* (28); C. Tryon 1/14, N. de Klerk 1/27
3rd T20I
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 4 wickets
South Africa: 155/6 after 20 overs; L. Wolvaardt 56 (47), N. de Klerk 44 (25); S. Kumari 3/24, I. Priyadharshani 1/18
Sri Lanka: 156/6 after 19.1 overs; C. Athapaththu 73 (46), H. Samarawickrama 54 (43); N. de Klerk 2/25, T. Sekhukhune 1/24
ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25) One-Day International Series
1st ODI
No Result (Rain)
South Africa: 270/6 after 50 overs; T. Brits 116 (128), L. Wolvaardt 41 (57); O. Ranasinghe 2/42, K. Dilhari 2/47
Sri Lanka: 23/0 after 6.5 overs; C. Athapaththu 12* (19), V. Gunaratne 9* (22); M. Kapp 0/9, A. Khaka 0/13
2nd ODI
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets
Sri Lanka: 229 all out after 49.5 overs; C. Athapaththu 51 (69), K. Dilhari 42 (41); N. de Klerk 3/23, A. Khaka 3/28
South Africa: 233/3 after 47.4 overs; L. Wolvaardt 110* (141), M. Kapp 80* (84); A. Kulasuriya 1/35, I. Ranaweera 1/41
3rd ODI
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 6 wickets
South Africa: 301/5 after 50 overs; L. Wolvaardt 184* (147), M. Kapp 36 (34); K. Dilhari 2/47, C. Athapaththu 1/59
Sri Lanka: 305/4 after 44.3 overs; C. Athapaththu 195* (139), N. Silva 50* (71); A. Khaka 2/54, D. Tucker 1/42
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lita Gqirana – Proteas Women Media Specialist
Cell.: (+27) 76 503 9655
Email:litag@cricket.co.za
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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