The class of Athapaththu gives Sri Lanka historic series win

Sri Lanka celebrate their historic 2-1 win over New Zealand in the WODI series

 New Zealand pair Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates during their unbroken 74-run stand

• Beat New Zealand 2-1 in three-match WODI series

Sri Lanka won their first-ever bilateral Women’s ODI series played against New Zealand with an eight-wicket win (DLS method) in the third and final WODI at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday which gave them the series 2-1.

It was another rain-shortened game that saw Sri Lanka pull off a win. The first WODI Sri Lanka won was a 28-over affair, while New Zealand won the second WODI by 116 runs when it was played as a full 50-over a side.

It was once again the classical batting of their skipper Chamari Athapaththu that brought Sri Lanka this historic series win. As she had done in the first WODI, Athapaththu took the fight to the opponents to carve out her eighth WODI century – 140* off 80 balls that included a world record equalling nine sixes and 13 fours. Athapaththu was in such serene form that the revised target of 196 Sri Lanka were set to win in 29 overs was achieved with 13 balls to spare. By hitting nine sixes Athapaththu equalled her rival skipper Sophie Devine’s world record which she established against Pakistan Women at Taunton in 2017. She also became the seventh player to score eight hundreds in WODIs and her 140* was her second highest score of her career after her epic 178* against Australia at Bristol in 2017.

Sri Lanka’s run chase didn’t begin all that promisingly as they lost Vishmi Gunaratne (0) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (3) cheaply to be 6-2 in the fourth over. But Athapaththu who had watched the dismissals of her teammates from the non-striker’s end found an able ally in Nilakshi de Silva who played an anchor role in a new Sri Lanka WODI partnership for any wicket of 190 runs (unbroken) for the third wicket to see their team home handsomely. De Silva always prepared to rotate the strike and give as much of the strike to her offensive captain finished unbeaten on 48 off 68 balls (5 fours) equalling her previous highest score against India at Pallekele last year.

New Zealand, who won the toss and took first lease of the wicket and reached 127-2 in 31 overs before rain interrupted play and terminated their innings. A feature of their batting was the unbroken third wicket stand of 74 between Suzie Bates who went onto score her 32nd fifty (63* off 87 balls, 3 fours) and skipper Sophie Devine (38* off 48 balls, 2 fours). The Lankan lasses bowled a tight line and length keeping the New Zealand run rate around four an over, not allowing them the luxury of freeing their arms.

New Zealand were left to rue the dropped catches offered by Athapatthu at 81 to Georgia Plimmer and by Nilakshi at 34 to Molly Penfold.

Athapaththu was named Player of the Match as well as Player of the Series. The two sides will commence a three-match WT20I series at the P Sara Oval on 8 July. (ST)

Scores: New Zealand Women 127-2 (31) (Suzie Bates 63*, Sophie Devine 38*)

Sri Lanka Women 196-2 (26.5) (Chamari Athapaththu 140*, Nilakshi de Silva 48*)