Athapaththu leads Sri Lanka to clean sweep over West Indies for the first time. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Chamari Athapaththu led Sri Lanka on a run spree to ensure a one-day series clean sweep against the West Indies in Hambantota.
The spirited Sri Lanka skipper has always stood up when the team is vulnerable and this time was no different as she continues to be the team’s guiding light.
The win in emphatic fashion, was historic in terms of a series sweep against the West Indies and underlined Sri Lanka’s steady climb in the world rankings taking them to number five behind Australia, England, South Africa and India and raises hope for automatic qualifying for the World Cup.
Athapaththu enjoying a charmed start to her innings reached 50 off 70 balls then accelerated to 91 before falling short of a well deserved century going for an adventurous hoick and was clean bowled.
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Together with in form Vishmi Gunaratne 44 off 59 balls, the duo put on 93 for the opening stand before a succession of wicket gave the Windies hope of containing the total.
But Sri Lanka’s middle order stood up as Nilakshika de Silva, 63 off 78 balls and Anushka Sanjeewani, 55 off 46 balls, lifted the tempo to race to an insurmountable 275 for 6 making the target improbable.
West Indies never looked like in the hunt as the struggled against a tight Sri Lankan attack led by spinner Sachini Nisansala while attempting to save wickets chasing a massive target.
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Sri Lanka’s bowlers never let them settle in and they were bowled out for a paltry 115 in reply.
Nisansala bowled a mesmerising spell to claim a Player-of-the-match 5 for 28 off 5.5overs. Oshadi Ranasinghe 2 for14 and Athapaththu one wicket exposed the Windies batters issue against spin.
Vishmi Gunaratne who had a consistent performance with the bat was named Player-of-the-series.
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