This is the first time in women’s cricket that a team has achieved a target of 300 or more. Sri Lanka achieved the target of 302 runs given by South Africa in just 44.3 overs. Chamari Athapaththu played a record unbeaten inning of 195 runs.
Experienced opening batsman Chamari Athapaththu shattered all the ODI records by playing a brilliant inning of 195 not out. On the basis of her explosive innings, Sri Lanka registered the biggest win so far in women’s ODI history. Sri Lanka won the final match of the 3-match ODI series against South Africa by scoring 302 runs in just 44.3 overs in Potchefstroom. This is the first time that a team has achieved a target of 300 or more in women’s cricket.
Chamari Athapaththu created history, this is how Sri Lanka won
This miracle happened on the strength of Chamari. He hit 5 sixes and 29 fours for his innings of 195 runs while facing only 135 balls. He completely wasted the hard work of South African captain Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 184 runs in 147 balls. Chamari Athapaththu’s 195 is the highest score by a batsman while chasing in Women’s ODI and is also the second-highest score overall in the 50-over format of the game.
Only Glenn Maxwell is ahead of Chamari Athapaththu
Only Glenn Maxwell has scored more runs while chasing in an ODI (men’s and women’s) during his sensational innings of 201 against Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup in Mumbai. It was on the strength of Chamari’s strong batting that Sri Lanka successfully chased the challenging target of 302 runs and leveled the 3-match series 1-1 in the very successful tour of South Africa.
It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka broke Australia’s decade-old record. In 2012, Australia successfully achieved the target of 289 runs against New Zealand. It has now come at number two in the record list.It has now come at number two in the record list.