Athapaththu’s Record-Breaking Knock Propels Her to No. 1
Chamari Athapaththu, who recently played an outstanding inning, scoring an unbeaten 195 in just 139 balls, has propelled herself to the No. 1 spot in the ICC’s batting rankings for women’s ODIs. Her remarkable performance led Sri Lanka to a stunning victory over South Africa in their final ODI in Potchefstroom last week.
Athapaththu’s incredible knock not only secured a victory for her team but also broke several records in women’s cricket. Notably, it stands as the highest individual score in a successful ODI chase. This feat also marks the second-highest individual score in a successful ODI chase across women’s and men’s cricket, following Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup.
A Record-Breaking Match
In the match against South Africa, chasing a formidable total of 301 for 5, Sri Lanka achieved victory in just 44.3 overs. Laura Wolvaardt’s outstanding 147-ball 184 not out for South Africa had set the stage for a thrilling contest. However, it was Athapaththu’s monumental innings that turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favor.
Nilakshika Silva’s 50 not out in 71 balls was the second-best individual score for Sri Lanka in the chase.
Rise in ICC Rankings
Following her outstanding performance, Chamari Athapaththu achieved her highest-ever rating of 773 on the ICC table. With this, she surpassed Nat Sciver-Brunt, who previously held the top spot with 764 points.
Laura Wolvaardt’s remarkable performance also didn’t go unnoticed. Having entered the top five in the last update of the rankings, Wolvaardt climbed two more spots, securing the third position, surpassing Beth Mooney and Smriti Mandhana.
Hayley Matthews and Sadia Iqbal also Make Significant Moves
Hayley Matthews, another standout performer, made a significant jump in the rankings. She scored 140 not out and 44 in West Indies’ victories over Pakistan in the first two ODIs of their three-match series. Matthews’ stellar performance helped her climb seven spots to reach No. 11 on the ICC table.
In the bowling department, Sadia Iqbal, the left-arm spinner from Pakistan, showed a remarkable performance. She moved up six places to enter the top 20 after her excellent returns of 2 for 38 and 1 for 36 in the two games against West Indies.
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