On Monday (July 22) , at the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, Chamari Athapaththu delivered a spectacular performance for Sri Lanka Women in Match 7 of Group B against Malaysia Women at Dambulla.

Chamari Athapaththu’s remarkable century for Sri Lanka

Her innings was a standout highlight, marking her third T20I century and setting a new milestone for Sri Lankan’s cricket. She has also become the first women player to hit the ton in the T20I format of the Asia Cup. Athapaththu’s century, which helped Sri Lanka post a formidable total of 184/4 in their 20 overs, was a masterclass in aggressive batting. She scored an unbeaten 119 runs off just 69 balls, with an impressive strike rate of 172.46. Her innings was punctuated with 14 boundaries and 7 sixes, showcasing her exceptional ability to dominate the bowlers

Crucial partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama 

Athapaththu started her innings cautiously, aiming to build a solid foundation. She was accompanied by Vishmi Gunaratne, who was dismissed early for just 1 run, bringing Athapaththu to the forefront. After the initial fall of wickets, Athapaththu began to assert herself, forming crucial partnerships.

Harshitha Samarawickrama supported her well, and the pair managed to stabilize the innings. Athapaththu and Samarawickrama’s partnership was pivotal. Samarawickrama scored a valuable 26 runs off 23 balls, including 5 boundaries. Their collaboration helped Sri Lanka move from a precarious 5/1 to a more secure position of 69/2 by the 10th over.

Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Date, Match Time, Venue, Broadcast and Live Streaming Details

Athapaththu’s acceleration in the end

With the foundation laid, Athapaththu shifted gears. Her aggressive batting saw her score boundaries frequently, using both finesse and power to dismantle Malaysia’s bowling attack. Her scoring rate surged as she took full advantage of any scoring opportunity. Athapaththu reached her century in just 69 balls. Her innings featured a blend of strong drives, well-timed cuts, and aggressive pulls. The century was marked with combination of remarkable boundaries and sixes , showcasing her dominance and striking prowess.

Humongous target for Malaysia Women

Athapaththu remained unbeaten at 119 runs as the innings concluded. Despite the fall of her batting partners – Anushka Sanjeewani (31) and Kavisha Dilhari (0), she continued to anchor the innings, ensuring that Sri Lanka posted a formidable total of 184/4 in their 20 overs. Athapaththu’s performance was crucial in setting a challenging target for Malaysia, who were set the daunting task of chasing 185 runs. Her innings ensured that Sri Lanka had a strong total to defend, highlighting her role as a pivotal player in her team’s campaign.

Here’s how Fans reacted:

Also READ: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Here are the complete squads of all 8 teams

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.