ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Chamari Athapaththu guides Sri Lanka to slender 3-run win over hosts South Africa

Sri Lanka started off the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a big surprise by beating hosts South Africa by a slender margin of three runs.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu hit 68 from 50 balls to set up the win for her side. Batting first, Sri Lanak put up a score of 129/4 at the end of 20 overs thanks to Athapaththu half-century. Athapaththu hit 12 fours in her half-century and put on a partnership of 82 off 62 balls with 17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, who made 35 off 34 batting at number 3 and promises to be the next star of Sri Lankan women’s cricket.

After putting Sri Lanka in a comfortable position with a well-paced half-century in the first innings, Athapaththu was crucial in the second innings as well, marshaling her bowlers and fielders in the tense final overs.

In the second innings, Sri Lanka’s bowling and fielding carried it home with spinners Inoka Ranaweera, Oshadi Ranasinghe and Sugandika Kumari accounting for seven of the wickets as South Africa fell short on 126-9.

Sri Lanka also pulled off two important run outs in the last two overs to cut short late counterattacks by South Africa tailenders Sinalo Jafta and Shabnim Ismail.

With eight runs needed to win off the final delivery, South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba lofted a drive over mid-off for four but the result had already slipped away from their hands by then.

Speaking after the match, Athapaththu said she always tries to lead from the front and be a role model for the team.

“I always try and lead from the front. I try and be a role model for the team. We played good cricket today,” said Athapaththu.

In the next two matches, England will face West Indies while defending champion Australia take on New Zealand in a night game in Paarl.