Sri Lanka women’s cricket skipper Chamari Athapaththu is back at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after a superb 195 not out in the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom that helped her team level the ICC Women’s Championship Series 1-1.
The 34-year-old left hand opener Athapaththu who played her 101th ODI against South Africa scored ninth ODI century, which is the highest score in a successful chase in Women’s ODIs, helped her overtake England all-rounder Natalie Sciver-Brunt to the top spot.
Chamari had earlier been number one from July 3 to 12 2023 before Beth Mooney and then Sciver-Brunt overtook her.
Chamari Athapaththu played 101 ODI’s having 3513 runs with an average of 36.59 already scored 9 tons and 16 fifties while she scored highest number of boundaries (449) and 54 sixes during her career.
Chamari Athapaththu who is presently in Dubai for the T- 20 World Cup qualifying tournaments has an idea to retire from International cricket but she has not announced a date for her retirement.
When Daily News contacted Chamari Athapaththu she said I wanted to focus on this T – 20 qualifying tournament and end on a high note for next T- 20 world cup in September in Bangladesh. At the moment I think about present matches and my aim is to reach at least semi final stage of the T- 20 World Cup.
Our coaching staff headed by Rumesh Ratnayake, Assistant coach Tharindu Perera making best efforts to develop my team and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) always with us added Chamari Athapaththu.
To be a ICC top batter in the latest ranking always give big boost to me and that was my dedication and commitment to the game added Athapaththu the inform batter who is the successful Sri Lankan batter in International cricket. Chamari Athapaththu also was adjudged best player of the women’s big bash League in Australia with her superb performance.
Chamari Athapaththu also in 7th place at the latest ICC T- 20 batting ranking while Harshitha Samarawickrama is in T – 20 ranking 18th.
Meanwhile Another former number one batter also rose after the Sri Lanka and South Africa series Athapaththu’s counterpart Laura Wolvaardt moving up two places to third position after scoring an unbeaten 184 that helped South Africa post a huge total of 301 for five in the third ODI.
West Indies captain Hayley Mathews completed a trio of captain-openers who moved up the rankings, her double of 140 not out and three for 17 in the first match of their ICC Women’s Championship series against Pakistan in Karachi helping her move up seven places to 11th position among batters and to second in the all-rounders’ list.
Former captains Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies (up two places to 18th) and Bismah Maroof of Pakistan (up one place to 27th) are other notable gainers in the batting rankings while Sri Lanka’s Nilakshi de Silva and the West Indies pair of Shemaine Campbell and Chinelle Henry have also moved up the rankings.
Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has progressed from 23rd to 17th position after grabbing three wickets in the first two matches against the West Indies. Connell (up three places to 25th), Henry (up six places to 36th), Kavisha Dilhari of Sri Lanka (up seven places to 48th) and Umm-e-Hani of Pakistan (up nine places to 60th) are others to move up the bowling rankings.
Sri Lankan Nilakshi de Silva who made a good supporting role to Athapaththu adding 179 runs fifth wicket came on ICC latest ranking 45 th place while young Harshitha Samarawickrama on 51th.
Meanwhile England Sophie Ecclestone came on top of the ICC ODI bowling ranking while Sri Lankan spinner Inoka Ratnaweera on 19 th , fast bowler Udeshika Probodani is on 31 st and Oshadi Ranasinghe on 35th ranking. However Inoka Ratnaweera is in 10 th place at ICC latest T- 20 bowling ranking.
Dhammika Ratnaweera