Wolvaardt’s lone-hand takes South Africa beyond 300

South Africa had probably felt safe when they posted 301-5 in the third ODI of the three-match series, at Senwes Park. No team had, after all, chased more than 290 to win in the format. South Africa had made 305-9 at Bristol in the 2017 World Cup, but that had been in response to England’s 373-5. Sri Lanka’s highest score had been 282-5 – that too while batting first – and it was their only total in excess of 260.

The star of South Africa’s innings was Laura Wolvaardt, who followed 41 in the first ODI and 110 not out in the second with 184 not out, off only 147 balls. At that point, it was the fourth-highest score in the format, after Amelia Kerr’s 232 not out, Belinda Clark’s 229 not out, and Deepti Sharma’s 188.

Athapaththu single-handedly leads SL to record chase

The unfazed Sri Lankans went for the daunting target. Vishmi Gunaratne made only 26, from 47 balls, but she helped Athapaththu put on 90 for the opening stand before Sri Lanka slipped to 126-4.

Athapaththu now found another reliable partner, in Nilakshika Silva, and went after the bowling. She took 78 balls to reach her hundred, and soon went past Meg Lanning’s 152 not out, the existing record while batting second in the format.

In the 44th over, Silva put Ayabonga Khaka away for four to reach her maiden fifty. Three balls later, with two runs to win, Athapaththu lofted Nadine de Klerk over mid-wicket to clear the fence comfortably. She finished with 195 not out, her highest score, from 139 balls – all this after opening bowling and returning 1-69 from 10 overs. She now holds each of the 11 highest individual scores, including all nine hundreds, for Sri Lanka in women’s ODIs.

The series was drawn 1-1: the first ODI had not yielded a result.

Watch Chamari Athapaththu seal a record chase with a six:

Series decider? Chamari will decide!

Right @UPWarriorz 😉? pic.twitter.com/5XlgjSLekQ

— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) April 17, 2024