Chamari Athapaththu becomes first to hit hundred in Women’s T20 Asia Cup

Chamari Athapaththu became the first batter to score a hundred in the history of the tournament. She achieved the feat in the match against Malaysia on Monday.

In Short:

• Chamari Athapaththu scored a 63-ball hundred against Malaysia
• Athapaththu helped Sri Lanka scored 184 for four in 20 overs
• Athapaththu is the seventh highest run-scorer in Women’s T20Is

Chamari Athapaththu made history after she became the first batter to score a hundred in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup. The Sri Lankan skipper achieved the feat in the match against Malaysia on Monday, July 22 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. After the hosts were asked to bat, the southpaw carried her bat and stayed not out on 119 off 69 balls with the help of 14 fours and seven sixes.

After Sri Lanka lost the early wicket of Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari joined hands with Harshitha Samarawickrama and put on 64 runs for the second wicket. Thereafter, Athapaththu and Anushka Sanjeewani stitched together a 115-run partnership for the third wicket. The veteran got to her half-century off 35 balls and laid the platform for her team.

Chamari Athapaththu goes berserk

From the 18th over onwards, she went absolutely berserk and took the attack to Ainna Hamizah Hashim, hitting her for a four followed by two sixes. Thereafter, Athapaththu took down Aisya Eleesa by starting the 19th over with a four, after which she cleared the ropes twice.

In the last over of the Sri Lankan innings, Athapaththu reached her century off 63 balls. On the third ball of the over from Winfried Duraisingam, the left-handed batter hit a huge six over long on to make history in the history of the tournament.

On the back of her knock, Sri Lanka posted a big total of 184 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Athapaththu also notched her third century in T20Is, having scored 3153 runs from 136 matches at an average of 24.44. Her other two centuries came against Australia and Scotland.

Athapaththu is currently seventh in the list of leading run-scorers in Women’s T20Is after Suzie Bates, Harmanpreet Kaur, Meg Lanning, Smriti Mandhana, Stafanie Taylor and Sophie Devine. (indiatoday)