Sri Lankan women’s cricketer Chamari Atapattu was fortunate to play for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League cricket tournament for the second time making her the only islander to do so.
Atapattu became the focus of attention in international cricket when she scored a superb unbeaten 178 runs off 143 deliveries with six sixes and 22 fours in an ODI for Sri Lanka against Australia in the 2017 women’s World Cup match in Bristol, England. She followed it up with a second century against Australia during a tour down under.
The 29-year-old Atapattu said that she always liked not to be under pressure and hit the ball all round the ground as her first century changed her cricket career. Chamari is the most successful woman cricketer of Sri Lanka and was named ‘Cricketer of the Year’ at the Sri Lanka Cricket awards ceremony held last Tuesday.
This was also the second time that she annexed this major award and could not be around to receive it as she was away playing in the Big Bash League in Australia.
She was also named as the best one day batter, best one day all rounder and best T/20 batter.
“Sri Lanka women’s cricket team suffered defeats at International level recently. We have to play in the T/20 World Cup in February in Australia next year but before that we have to find a few good players.
“The T/20 Provincial tournament helped to identify a few young players like Harshitha Madawi and Hansima Karunaratne. Now we have to prepare the team with intense coaching,” said Chamari.