Athapaththu ton revives SL's semi-final hopes
Athapaththu's innings raised SL's NRR to less than negative one, with Scotland still to play, and other matches remaining in the group
Athapaththu's innings raised SL's NRR to less than negative one, with Scotland still to play, and other matches remaining in the group
Scorer: Harshith Gowda | Commentator: @HemantBrar_
That's all from our side for this game. But don't go away. Our coverage for the Australia-Pakistan game has already started... See you there.
Chamari Athapaththu: I love Bristol. I played my natural game and scored a hundred, but more importantly we won. [Does she know how many T20I tons she has?] No, I am not counting. Young Mithali bowled well. We have one more game left and I want us to play our best game against Scotland. We cannot control other results. Unfortunately, we lost against WI. We are in a bit of trouble now but we keep smiling and play our best cricket.
Gaby Lewis: It's tough. We need to rebuild. The important thing was to build a partnership. Hope the girls will learn and come back stronger. The level of skills has gone up and it also makes you hungrier. How close we were to beating New Zealand and how well we played in patches. [on Athapaththu's knock] She is a world-class player. Brilliant knock. We have beaten them [West Indies] in the tri-series so the belief is there.
robert: "well, that beats Sindhu Sriharsha" - Athapaththu scored 79.10% of her team's runs (106 out of 134). But since it was not a "completed innings" - neither full allocation of overs were bowled nor the team got all out - it won't make it to that list.
V. Kalyani : "Chamari, it seems, took last match's defeat to her heart. What a way to lead from the front for her!Meanwhile, spare a thought for Gaby Lewis, who also played a captain's knock."
Chamari Athapaththu is the Player of the Match: Bristol is familiar for me. Whenever I come here, I score runs. Unfortunately, I got out early last game. I was disappointed about that but we won today and that's what matters to me as a player, as a captain. We needed to up our NRR, so I just played my natural game - I always attack. I tried my best to do my best. Young Mithali is amazing and other bowlers also bowled well. I am really happy with the bowling unit.
Sri Lanka now have four points, with a match against Scotland remaining. But their net run rate, despite this big win, is -0.973. Ireland, meanwhile, stay winless.
AJ: "Natalie's words broke me... You're not a failure Chamari... you're a champion <3"
5.20pm A thumping win for Sri Lanka, by nine wickets and with 27 balls to spare. After the defeat in the last match, Athapaththu said she had failed as captain. Today she played a captain's knock to lead her side to victory.
A thunderous display from the captain kept Sri Lanka's slim hopes alive, but she was still looking at the bigger picture
Athapaththu's innings raised SL's NRR to less than negative one, with Scotland still to play, and other matches remaining in the group