Chamari Athapaththu becomes first Sri Lankan to top Women’s ODI Rankings
A Sri Lankan batswoman topped the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time ever on Tuesday.
With 248 runs from three matches, Chamari Athapaththu surpassed Australian opener Beth Mooney to take the top spot. In just 80 deliveries, she scored 140 runs to help her team win the series against all odds.
First time Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand in a bilateral women’s ODI series and it was all thanks to Chamari Athapaththu’s inspiring innings.
As the series went into the last game, the confident left-hander continued to play aggressively despite a first-ball duck in the second match.
As Chamari Athapaththu smashed nine massive sixes during her quickfire knock, she combined with teammate Nilakshi de Silva to record Sri Lanka’s highest-ever third-wicket partnership in women’s ODIs.
As a result, Athapaththu became the first Sri Lankan woman to top the ODI rankings, joining male compatriot Sanath Jayasuriya as the only two players from the island nation to do so.
Although New Zealand lost the series, there was some cheer for the team, with skipper Sophie Devine jumping six places to 13th overall on the ODI batter rankings for her 194 runs. Following her five wickets over three matches, experienced seamer Lea Tahuhu moved up three spots to equal 14th on the ODI bowler rankings.
The West Indies and Ireland completed a three-match ODI series in the Caribbean, with Stafanie Taylor (up one spot to ninth) and Gaby Lewis (up five places to 21st) being the biggest eye catchers on the batter rankings, while Shamilia Connell (up four places to 24th) was the largest mover on the bowler rankings.
In the first T20I of the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia, Ashleigh Gardner moved up one place to sixth overall and earned a new career best rating for batters on the updated list.
In the same list, England’s Sophia Dunkley rose four places to 16th, while Sarah Glenn (up one spot to third) and Jess Jonassen (up four spots to 18th) moved up the rankings.