Cape Town, Feb 11: Captain Chamari Athapaththu starred with the bat as Sri Lanka produced an inspiring performance to stun hosts South Africa by three runs in the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands here.
Athapaththu led from the front with a 50-ball 68 (12×4), Sri Lanka’s highest-ever individual score at the showpiece event on Friday night.
Having set South Africa 130 to win, Sri Lankan spinners took control with guile and discipline to restrict the hosts for 126 for nine. It was Sri Lanka’s first T20I victory over South Africa since 2016.
The islanders made a slow start, scoring just four runs out of the first three overs, but Athapaththu broke the shackles soon with back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Athapaththu perished to long leg for a superb 68 to leave her side on 114 for three. Ismail yorked Nilakshi de Silva in the penultimate over to slow down Sri Lanka, with Marizanne Kapp conceding only five from the last over.
In reply, South Africa were off to a steady start to their chase and opener Tazmin Brits was struck on the helmet by the fifth ball of the innings, forcing the opener to pass concussion tests twice.
Off-spinner Oshadi Ranasinghe bowled four dot balls in the penultimate over of powerplay putting pressure on Brits who was caught at extra cover for 12.
Ranaweera struck two more times to stem the run flow for the South Africans.
Sinalo Jafta and Ismail were both run out in the closing stages as South Africa fell short. (PTI)
