Chamari lights up inaugural edition with brilliant hundred

FairBreak Women’s Invitational 2022 cricket tournament in Dubai

Chamari Athapaththu receiving her Player of the Match award after her splendid century for Falcons

Although not in the same league as the men, Sri Lanka Women cricketers are also making themselves known in franchise cricket with two of them taking part in the inaugural edition of the FairBreak Women’s Invitational 2022 cricket tournament in Dubai.

Sri Lanka Women Captain Chamari Athapaththu is representing Falcons led by New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates while Udeshika Prabodhani, the left-arm medium-pacer is playing for Warriors captained by Sindhu Sriharsha of the USA.

When the two sides met in their opening match, Falcons powered by a brilliant unbeaten century from Chamari beat Warriors by eight wickets.

Warriors batting first hit up a challenging total of 177-2, but Falcons skipper Suzie Bates and Chamari made short work of that target, figuring in an opening stand of 133 off 14 overs to see their side home with eight balls to spare.

Bates struck eight fours and a six in her innings of 60 off 43 balls, but Chamari went onto finish the match with an unbeaten 107* off 55 balls that included five sixes and 13 fours. At the receiving end of Chamari’s broad bat was Sri Lankan team mate Udeshika Prabodhani whose three overs cost 30 runs without a wicket. – (ST)