Chamari Athapaththu

Atapattu Mudiyanselage Chamari Jayangani (born 9 February 1990, also known as Chamari Athapaththu) is a Sri Lankan cricketer and the current captain of the women's Twenty20 International team of Sri Lanka. Chamari was the tenth captain for Sri Lanka women's national cricket team. In November 2017, she was named the Women's Cricketer of the Year for the 2016–17 season at Sri Lanka Cricket's annual awards. She is the first Sri Lankan woman to play in franchise cricket. In November 2023, it was announced that a special dedicated seating zone at the Sydney Cricket Ground would be named after her as the Chamari Bay.

International career
She is known for aggressive batting in the top order. In the 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup, Atapattu hit a quick fifty against England women, where the Sri Lanka women won the match by one wicket. Under her captaincy, Sri Lanka women won the T20I series against Pakistan Women.

She is also the only Sri Lankan woman cricketer to score an ODI century, doing this five times in her career. She scored her maiden ODI century on 28 April 2011 against Ireland. She holds the record for scoring the most number of ODI centuries and fifties for Sri Lanka in women's cricket history. She also holds the record for the highest WODI score for Sri Lanka, with 178 not out. She has the highest ODI average for Sri Lanka in women's cricket. She is also the only Sri Lankan woman cricketer to score an ODI hundred as well as having scored most runs in an innings at a strike rate of over 100. She was the third woman cricketer in the world to be dismissed for 99 in an ODI innings. Atapattu's 178 not out is the highest Women's ODI score when batting at number three position for Sri Lanka. Chamari Atapattu is the first and only Sri Lankan woman cricketer to score a century in Women's Cricket World Cup history

Atapattu is the first Sri Lankan batswoman to pass 1,000 runs in T20Is and she is also the leading runscorer for Sri Lanka in both ODIs and T20Is.

At 2016 ICC Women's T20 World Cup she scored her maiden T20Is half century against South Africa. During that match, South African's had a successful 50 run partnership for the first wicket. But Atapattu came in charge break the partnership from runout and she bowled Mignon du Preez for a four-ball duck in the same over. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 10 runs. For the all round performance Atapattu won player of the match award. She was the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka with 141 runs in four matches.

At the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup, during Sri Lanka's match against Australia, she scored the third-highest individual total in a WODI and the second-highest total in a Women's World Cup match, with 178 not out. She also scored the highest percentage of runs in a completed innings in a WODI (69.26%) and the most runs in boundaries in a WODI, with 124. It was also the record for scoring the highest individual score in an innings of a WODI in a losing cause. Even in a losing cause she won player of the match award for her performance. In October 2018, she was named as captain of Sri Lanka's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies. Ahead of the tournament, she was named as one of the players to watch. She was the leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the tournament, with 59 runs in three matches.

On 9 October 2019 third ODI match against Australia Atapattu scored her fifth ODI century. On 29 September 2019, in the first WT20I match against Australia, Atapattu scored her first century in WT20I cricket. She scored 113 runs from 66 balls. Athapaththu went from 51 to 113 in merely 22 deliveries, as she hit 12 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 171.21 during the innings against Australia but Sri Lanka lost the match.

In January 2020, she was named as the captain of Sri Lanka's squad for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia. During practice match against England Atapattu scored unbeaten 78 runs and took three wickets and Sri Lanka won the match. In the first WT20 match against New Zealand She scored 41 runs and took one wicket but Sri Lanka lost the match. Next match against Australia she scored her second T20I half century. She was the leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the tournament, with 154 runs in four matches including one half century.

In October 2021, she was named as the captain of Sri Lanka's team for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe. In January 2022, Atapattu was named as the captain of Sri Lanka's team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Cricket Qualifier tournament in Malaysia. She performed consistently throughout Commonwealth Games Cricket Qualifier scoring 221 runs in four matches including two half centuries with average of 55.25 and strike rate of 185.71, and also taking four wickets. Due to her all round performance she won player of the series award. Sri Lanka won all four games and secure the place at Commonwealth games 2022. Following her performance at the Commonwealth Games Qualifier, she moved into the top 10 of the ICC Women's T20I batting rankings.

In June 2022, third ODI against Pakistan, Athapattu scored her sixth ODI century, her first against Pakistan. She scored 101 runs from 85 balls, hitting 13 boundaries and one six. She put 152 run partnership with Harshitha Madavi for 3rd wicket. While bowling she took two wickets and one run out. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 93 runs. Athapattu won player of the match award for her performance. Later the same month, in Sri Lanka's home series against India, Athapattu became the first batter for Sri Lanka to score 2,000 runs in WT20I cricket.

In July 2022, she was named as the captain of Sri Lanka's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

On 10 February 2023, opener of T20 World cup 2023, Athapattu scored her 6th T20I half century against South Africa. She scored 68 runs from 50 balls hitting 12 boundaries. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 3 runs and Athapattu won player of the match award for her performance.

On 27 June 2023, first ODI match against New Zealand, Chamari scored her 7th ODI century, first century against New Zealand. She also reached 3000 ODI runs. She scored unbeaten 108 runs from 83 deliveries hitting ten boundaries and five sixes. While chasing down 170 runs, she put 159 run partnership for the first wicket with Vishmi Gunarathna. This was also the highest partnership for the first wicket for Sri Lanka women's cricket team. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 9 wickets. This was also Sri Lanka's first ODI victory against New Zealand. Due to her match winning knock, Chamari won the player of the match award.

On 3 July 2023, third ODI match against New Zealand, Chamari scored her 8th ODI century. In the process she moved up to joint-fourth on the list of most ODI hundreds in women's cricket. While chasing down the target she reached to century by 60 balls. Fastest century in her carrier. Finally she scored unbeaten 140 runs and also put unbeaten 190 run partnership with Nilakshi De Silva. This was their highest partnership for any wicket in Sri Lanka women team surpassing previous record held on first ODI match. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets and won the series. This was Sri Lanka's first bilateral ODI series victory. Due to her performance, Chamari won player of the match award and player of the series award. She was the highest run scorer in the series, scoring 248 runs in three matches including two centuries. Following her performance against New Zealand, Chamari became No 1 ODI batsman in women's ODI rankings, becoming first Sri Lankan to do so.

On 12 July 2023, 3rd T20I match against New Zealand, Chamari scored her 7th T20I half century. While chasing down the target of 140 runs, Chamari scored unbeaten 80 runs from 47 deliveries hitting 13 boundaries and two sixes. She also put an unbeaten partnership of 143 runs with Harshitha Madhawi. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets in just 14.3 overs and due to excellent batting performance, Chamari won player of the match award.

On 2 September 2023, 2nd T20I match against England, Chamari scored her 8th T20I half century. While chasing down the target of 105, she scored 55 runs from 31 balls hitting 8 boundaries and two sixes. While bowling she took one wicket. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets. This is first win for Sri Lanka against England in T20I format. Due to her all round performance Chamari won player of the match award. Chamari won the ICC Women's Player of the Month for September 2023 for her impressive eye-catching performances against England during the month.

Due to her impressive performance during the year of 2023, she was named as captain of ICC women's ODI team and T20I team of the year.

On 3rd April 2024, third T20I match against South Africa, Chamari scored 9th T20I half century. She scored 73 runs from 46 deliveries hitting 7 boundaries and five sixes and she also put 97 run partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 4 wickets and also won the series. This was Sri Lanka's maiden bilateral T20I series win against South Africa. Due to her performance, Chamari won player of the match award.

On 13th April 2024, second ODI match against South Africa, Chamari scored 16th ODI half century scoring 51 runs from 69 balls hitting nine boundaries.

On 17th April 2024, third ODI match against South Africa, Chamari Athapattu scored her 9th ODI century. She scored unbeaten 195 runs from 139 deliveries hitting 26 boundaries and five sixes while chasing down the target of 302. Chamari also put unbeaten 179 run partnership with Nilakshi De Silva, the second-highest stand for the fifth-wicket or lower in the women's game and rescued Sri Lanka from 126 for 4 in the 21st over and successfully chased down the target 302. This is Sri Lanka's highest successful chase in women's ODIs and the first team in women's ODIs to chase down a 300-plus runs target successfully.

Athapaththu's score against South Africa is now the highest while chasing in women's ODIs, bettering Meg Lanning's 152* against Sri Lanka in 2017. Only Glenn Maxwell (201* vs Afghanistan in 2023) has a higher score in an ODI chase.

Athapaththu's unbeaten 195 is the third-highest individual score in women's ODIs. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets and series levelled. Due to her performance Chamari won player of the match award.

Following her impressive performance she was raised to No: 1 spot in ICC ODI rankings second time in her carrier achieving her highest-ever rating of 773 on the ICC table.

On 27th of April 2024, against Scottland Chamari scored her 10th T20I half century. She scored unbeaten 59 runs from 35 balls hitting ten boundaries and one six while chasing down target of 95. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets.

On 7th of May 2024, against Scottland at final of T20 world cup qualifier, Chamari scored her second T20I century. She scored 102 runs from 63 balls hitting 13 boundaries and four sixes. Chamari became oldest woman to score century in women's T20I at 34 years and 88 days. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 68 runs and Chamari won player of the match award. Chamari is highest run scorer in the qualifier scoring 226 runs in 6 matches with average of 45.20 including taking 7 wickets.Sri Lanka qualified to ICC Women's T20I world cup 2024.

On 28th of June, third T20I match against West Indies Chamari became first Sri Lankan to score 3000 T20I runs.

Overview
, Athapaththu had scored nine ODI centuries, against six different teams, with a top score of 195*. Five of the nine ODI centuries had been scored in Sri Lanka, and the others in England, Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa respectively.

Athapaththu was not only the most prolific, but also the only, female Sri Lankan ODI centurion. Additionally, she had scored two WT20I centuries, the only Sri Lankan woman to have done so.

Franchise cricket
Atapattu is the first Sri Lankan to play in the Women's BBL franchise. She was signed by Melbourne Renegades for the third edition of the WBBL. In her 16 matches for Melbourne Renegades she has scored 196 runs with a high score of 42 and best bowling figures of 2–6. Before WBBL, her an unbeaten 178 against Australia in Bristol, helped her to become the first Sri Lankan woman to sign a contract with a franchise-based T20 league. She represented Yorkshire Diamonds and Loughborough Lightning in the second edition of the Kia Super League in England in 2017. Atapattu's stand-out season was in 2017 for Yorkshire Diamonds, when she made 135 runs in five matches. She was signed by Perth Scorchers for the 2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season and was part of the side's campaign which eventually clinch the title, although she had to leave the tournament halfway due to national commitments.

In August 2022, she was signed as an overseas player for Guyana Amazon Warriors for the inaugural edition of the Women's Caribbean Premier League. She returned to Melbourne Renegades during the 2022–23 Women's Big Bash League season, as a replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur.

She was bought by Sydney Thunder as an overseas replacement player for the 2023–24 Women's Big Bash League season after being initially ignored during the WBBL player draft. Her inclusion paid rich dividends for the Sydney Thunder as she piled up 511 runs in across 13 innings at an average of 42.58 with a strike rate touching closer to 130, while also doing fine with the ball capturing nine wickets at 25.55 with an excellent economy rate of 6.79 and she was awarded the WBBL 09 player of the tournament for her all-round performance both with the bat and ball.