Athapaththu finishes off WBBL on a high for Sydney Thunder

Chamari Athapaththu 

• Wins Player of the Tournament award

Sri Lanka’s women’s team cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu ended her stint with Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) on a high.

By the time her Sydney Thunder side bowed out in Tuesday’s Eliminator, she was the tournament’s leading scorer with 552 runs at an average of 42.46 and strike rate of 127.18. She also had nine wickets at 27.22 and an economy rate of 6.83, including 3 for 20 with her off-spin in her opening match against cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers. Her 41 off 40 balls was her side’s best by far as Thunder exited with a 44-run defeat at the hands of Brisbane Heat and Athapaththu went into that match as Player of the Tournament.

After being brought somewhat belatedly into the WBBL, again as an overseas replacement, Athapaththu has torn up the competition with her unique scoring ability. Initially overlooked in the overseas draft for the current WBBL, she was snapped up by Thunder as cover for the existing overseas contingent of Marizanne Kapp, Heather Knight and Lauren Bell. With Knight as captain, it took an illness to No.1 draft pick Kapp to make way for Athapaththu initially. Bell played just twice for Thunder and was recalled by England ahead of their upcoming tour of India, by which time Athapaththu had made herself indispensable.

She scored five fifties in the tournament this year and crashed 18 sixes, third behind Grace Harris and Sophie Devine. In doing so, she helped Thunder to a vastly improved performance after they recorded just one win last season.

The knock-on effect so far has been another deal, Athapaththu signing for Northern Brave, with whom she will link up for New Zealand’s Super Smash late next month. With the auction for the 2024 WPL due to take place on 9 December, she could be taking another significant step in her franchise career before long.