Athapaththu's 195* trumps Wolvaardt's 184* in epic SL chase

Sri Lanka completed the highest successful chase in women's ODIs, against South Africa, and the only one over 300 thanks to a sensational 195* from their captain Chamari Athapaththu. She finished with her career-best ODI score and the third-highest individual score by a batter in women's ODIs to help Sri Lanka level the series 1-1. In a clash of the skippers, Athapaththu's thump bested Laura Wolvaardt's 184* - the most elevated by a South African player and her fourth hundred since being named commander last September. She drove South Africa to their fifth-most elevated ODI score and most noteworthy against Sri Lanka however it was adequately not. Athapaththu and Nilakshika de Silva partook in a 179-run fifth-wicket association - the second-most noteworthy represent the fifth-wicket or lower in the ladies' down - and saved Sri Lanka from 126 for 4 in the 21st over. Urgently, Sri Lanka acquired two focuses on the Ladies' Title table, which decides capability for the 2025 ODI World Cup. They climb to seventh spot and stay in the race for programmed section to India one year from now - the main five groups alongside the hosts will go through - with six matches left to play. Sri Lanka pass on South Africa after their best visit to these shores. Alongside a squared ODI series, they won the T20I series 2-1 - their most memorable series prevail upon South Africa. In the quick result of that success, Athapaththu alluded to worldwide retirement however the structure she showed in the third ODI in Potchefstroom recommended she is not even close to prepared to put the bat down. Sri Lanka had never scored 300 in an ODI, significantly less pursued that much however on a level pitch with a quick outfield, Athapaththu liked their possibilities. She hit the ball neatly, was severe straight down the ground and speedy between the wickets and that was in the wake of opening the bowling and conveying a full standard of ten overs with an arrival of 1 for 59. She was the senior accomplice in her initial stand with 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne and took the battle to South Africa. They put on 90 inside 16 overs before Gunaratne was given out lbw to Delmi Exhaust, who was additionally engaged with the subsequent wicket. She took a decent catch at in reverse highlight excuse Prasadani Weerakkody off Nadine de Klerk's bowling and South Africa detected a potential chance to make advances into Sri Lanka's center request. Wolvaardt brought back Ayabonga Khaka, playing in her 100th ODI, and she had quick achievement. She had Hansima Karunaratne gotten behind, pursuing a wide one, off the main chunk of her fourth finished and Kavisha Dilhari got behind down the leg side two balls later. Sinalo Jafta took the two gets yet the subsequent one did her filthy as her shoulder hit the ground ungracefully and she needed to leave the field. Uncapped 16-year-old Karabo Meso supplanted her behind the stumps and thought she had wicket off De Silva's most memorable ball however umpire Jacqueline Williams was unaffected. Sri Lanka were 126 for 4 in the 21st over and Athapaththu was still there. The Sri Lankan skipper was undeterred by the smaller than usual breakdown and basically continued to bat. She raised a hundred off 78 balls in the 26th over and kept Sri Lanka on target as South Africa disentangled. Their handling was messy; ousts were offered galore and significantly, Athapaththu was dropped on 128 by Sune Luus in profound mid-wicket off Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 32nd over. At that point, Sri Lanka actually required 106 runs from 18.3 overs. Athapaththu capitalized on her let-off and kept on floating her direction through the pursuit with Silva offering solid help and South Africa becoming lost. They sent down 19 wides and two no-balls altogether and Sri Lanka traded out. Athapaththu and de Silva joined limit hitting with remarkable strike pivot and arrived at the objective with five-and-half-overs - 33 balls - to share the prize Prior, South Africa would have been sure of asserting it after Wolvaardt scored her quickest - off 100 balls - and second progressive hundred in the series against Sri Lanka. Without a trace of Tazmin Brits - who went through a medical procedure on a meniscus tear in her left knee today - Wolvaardt has embraced the obligation of both securing and speeding up the innings. She was the prevailing accomplice in the initial association of 116 with Lara Goodall and scored 83 off 74 balls, while Goodall, playing in her 50th ODI, contributed 31 off 55. South Africa's innings stammered through the center period as the Sri Lankan spinners crushed them. Goodall, Exhaust and Luus were excused for eight runs in about 18 balls, however recuperated thanks to their most dependable allrounder Marizanne Kapp. She and Wolvaardt shared a run-a-ball organization of 63, and Kapp was at the opposite end when Wolvaardt contacted her hundred preceding she was run-out toward the finish of the 35th over. South Africa were 187 for 4 at that point and the appearance of de Klerk brought an expanded power. De Klerk and Wolvaardt put on 92 out of 80 balls for the 6th wicket, with de Klerk simply laying down a good foundation for herself as a finisher, it was Wolvaardt who was forceful in the stand. She hit her next 84 runs in 47 balls and South Africa scored 114 runs in their last 15 overs, at 7.6 runs an over, which appeared to set them up well until Athapaththu had the last say.