Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka plays a shot as Sinaloa Jafta of South Africa plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group A match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands Stadium on February 10, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. , Photo Credit: Getty Images
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu scored an emphatic fifty against South Africa in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on February 10.
Athapaththu’s 68 enabled Sri Lanka to post 129 for four after being sent in to bat by the hosts.
The left-handed Sri Lankan veteran hit 12 fours and shared an 86-run partnership for the second wicket with 17-year-old Wismi Gunaratne, who scored 35.
Both the batsmen fielded well in successive deliveries in the 18th over to prevent late scoring.
Gunaratne was run out by a direct hit from Tazmin Britts and Athapaththu was caught diving in the deep by Nadine de Klerk off Marizanne Kapp.
Abbreviated Score:
Sri Lanka 129-4 in 20 overs (C Athapaththu 68, V Gunaratne 35)
Toss: South Africa
Match Status: South Africa need 130 runs to win