Lanning denies Sri Lanka after Atapattu tears up record books
NOT all hundreds are matchwinning. Not all necessarily deserve to be. But if ever one did, it was Chamari Atapattu’s record-shattering unbeaten 178 against the world champion Australians.
Yet it was that dominance relative to the rest of her hapless Sri Lankan side that ensured it was never going to be, Meg Lanning returning serve with a stunning 152 not out of her own to secure a second breezy eightwicket win to commence the trophy holder’s defence.
After sending Sri Lanka in, Elysse Perry struck inside the first over to further the belief they had the weapons to blast through the lowest-ranked side in the tournament. To an extent, that was true, wickets falling consistently as the batting side slumped to 130-6 by the 34th over. Right then, the whole affair had a sinking feeling about it.
Except when Atapattu was on strike. Coming in at No.3, she the broader narrative from the outset, driving and slapping her way through the innings irrespective of what was transpiring around her. When she exploded with a slew of thumping straight sixes and daring hooks, the left-hander had successfully flummoxed the Australians on their way to 257-9.
Atapattu’s stats spoke for themselves. She had clocked third highest total in women’s one-day history; the second best in any World Cup behind Belinda Clark’s 229 against Denmark. The best tally against Australia. And most runs ever made in boundaries – 124, made up of 22 fours and six sixes.
Perhaps most remarkable was her lifting the record high percentage of runs in a completed ODI from 61 to 69.
The 14 wides from Australia slotted in as the third highest scorer for Sri Lanka. The support she received was scant at best.
Lanning said after play her charges’ performance with the ball and field was not up to the standard she expects. In turn, after the Atapattu storm, they all of a sudden required the highest successful run chase in the Women’s World Cup. After losing Beth Mooney inside the opening two overs, the captain was walking into a serious ballgame.
It would have been even more the case had Nicole Bolton not been dropped by the keeper Prasandi Weerakkody on four. Instead of reeling at 5-2 the second wicket was ultimately worth 135 as the opener and Lanning sucked the life out of the Sri Lankan attack, Bolton making a sturdy 60.
If Atapattu’s hundred was noteworthy for its novelty, Lanning’s 152 from 135 was special for its banality. As far as the world’s best player is concerned, these feats become expected, underpinned by truly peerless timing and placement.
Her unbeaten 124-run partnership with Elysse Perry saw the total reached with 37 balls to spare.
For Sri Lanka, they leave knowing they had their chance to topple the best and blew it. Appalling fielding and ropey bowling only reinforced what a one-woman-band it had been on the day.
As for Australia, New Zealand await at the same ground in a Sunday blockbuster. Much of their win here wasn’t pretty, but with Lanning now in top form, that will be more than enough to take from a scrappy day at the office.