Chamari Atapattu and Meghann Lanning record unique first in Women’s cricket

The eighth match of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup between Australia and Sri Lanka saw a unique record being set by two batswomen. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Atapattu and Australian skipper Meghann Lanning both registered 150+ scores – the first time two batswomen had done so in the same ODI. While Atapattu scored a brilliant unbeaten 178 off just 143 balls, Lanning finished unbeaten on 152 off 135 balls.

After being asked to bat first, the Lankans were in a spot of bother as they lost the first wicket in the very first over. Even as Atapattu held anchor at one end, wickets would continue to go down like ninepins at the other. That did not, however, deter the 27-year-old from her resolve. She led a solo fightback and helped her team post a respectable total on the board.

None of the bowlers could trouble her as she went on hitting boundaries almost at will. By the time she finished, Atapattu had notched up 22 fours and six sixes.

Australia were always in control

Despite her heroics, a target of 258 was never going to be much to defeat the mighty Aussies. Opener Nicole Bolton scored a stroke full fifty but it was the captain, Lanning, who hogged the limelight. The 25-year-old played a phenomenal knock and kept Australia in control of the proceedings right through the chase. She brought up her 150 with a massive six straight down the ground, which also brought up the winning runs.

At the post-match presentation, though, Lanning heaped praise on Atapattu saying, “Once she (Atapattu) got going, it was hard to stop her. We couldn’t stop her in the end, anyway. We know she likes to hit the ball hard and straight. We tried a whole lot of plans but none of that worked – a very special innings.”