Athapaththu makes memorable debut for Sydney Thunder

Chamari Athapaththu drives on her way to a half-century for Sydney Thunder

Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu made a memorable debut for Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League when she came up with a brilliant all-round display to beat rivals, Sydney Sixers by 42 runs at North Sydney.

Athapaththu scored 52 off 39 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) to help Sydney Thunder to a total of 190-5 and took three wickets for 20 runs with her off-breaks to restrict Sydney Sixers to 148-9.

Athapaththu, who was Thunder’s fourth overseas signing, took 34 balls to reach the half century on the ground, where she plundered her career-best T20I score of 113 in 2019. She was only playing this game because Marizanne Kapp had not recovered from an illness picked up before leaving South Africa. Athapaththu and Tahlia Wilson (33) laid the play for Thunder with an opening stand of 98 in 11 overs.

Athapaththu won the Player of the Match award as well.