Chamari & her lasses added Asian Games adrenaline with historic series win
Updated Date: 8th September, 2023
In the world of cricket, history was made on a memorable Wednesday when the Sri Lankan women's team clinched their first-ever series victory over England in any format and also marked the first series win outside of Asia since 2003! This remarkable achievement was sealed with a dominant seven-wicket triumph in the third T20I in Derby, led by the inspirational captain, Chamari Athapaththu. Athapaththu's outstanding all-round performance, which included three crucial wickets and a blistering 44 runs from just 28 deliveries, left England reeling and Sri Lanka celebrating a historic moment.
Chamari Athapaththu's influence on the series cannot be overstated. Her remarkable performance earned her the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. Over the course of the three matches, she contributed 114 runs and claimed five wickets. Athapaththu's explosive batting and valuable wickets were pivotal to Sri Lanka's success, setting a shining example for her team.
While Athapaththu rightly received accolades, her teammates played crucial roles in the series decider. Inoshi Priyadharshani made a statement by dismissing Danni Wyatt with the very first ball of the match. Udeshika Prabodhani and Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with two wickets each, dismantling England's batting lineup. Harshitha Samarawickrama's contribution of an unbeaten 26 runs also played a vital role in guiding Sri Lanka to victory.
Sri Lanka Women's coach, Rumesh Ratnayake, hailed the T20I series win as "really huge" for cricket in the country. “We know where we can be and we can see the picture and that's how we are here and that's what we came for. We spoke of playing cricket for moments like this, for tours like this”, he gushed in a statement to ESPNcricinfo.
The victory came as a surprise to many, as Sri Lanka was ranked six places lower than England in the format. Ratnayake emphasized that their victory would raise awareness of women's cricket in Sri Lanka and inspire young talents to follow in the footsteps of Athapaththu and her teammates. He also stressed the importance of winning without heavily relying on Athapaththu, acknowledging that having another player of her caliber would be a rare occurrence. He highlighted that Sri Lanka's cricketing philosophy encourages collective teamwork and cohesion - "You'll be surprised, even the smallest can hit sixes now. So we are there, but it's a collective thing, it's a cohesive thing where everybody gets together and works as a team.”
Ratnayake attributed part of their success to practice matches against men's sides and creating a fearless environment where players could express themselves freely. He recognized the need to change the mindset of his players, leading to a transformation in their approach to the game.
England Women's head coach, Jon Lewis, embraced a fearless approach in his team as well. He aimed to provide opportunities for younger and less experienced players under pressure. Despite the loss to Sri Lanka, Lewis stood by this approach, believing it was essential for player development and squad exploration. The two teams are now set to embark on a three-game ODI series, with England welcoming back star players Nat Sciver-Brunt and Tammy Beaumont.
As they head to the Hangzhou Asian Games later this month, one can only wonder what the future holds for the Lankan willow wielders. The recent historic victory over New Zealand, and now over England, combined with their status as defending Asian Games bronze medalists, certainly sets the stage for an exciting and promising journey ahead. These exceptional performances have ignited hopes and expectations for what promises to be a thrilling competition in Hangzhou.
