Lanning's unbeaten 152 sees Australia home after Atapattu's 178no
Saturday 22 July 2017 10:13, UK
Sri Lanka's Chamari Atapattu struck the third-highest score in Women's ODI cricket only to end up on the losing side, as Meg Lanning's 152 not out steered Australia to a record-breaking eight-wicket victory in the World Cup clash at Bristol.
Atapattu struck six sixes on her way to an unbeaten 178 off just 143 balls - scoring 69 per cent of her team's runs, the highest ever individual percentage in a Women's ODI innings - to underpin Sri Lanka's 257-9.
The number three's phenomenal knock was also the best total ever scored by a batsman against Australia Women but was nullified by Lanning, who batted with exceptional poise to register her 11th ODI hundred as her side successfully mounted a record World Cup run-chase.
The skipper sealed the match in style, striking a six to end the contest with 37 balls remaining, bringing up her 150 in the process.
Atapattu's third ODI century was as vital as it was dynamic as only two other Sri Lanka batsmen made double figures - Shashikala Siriwardene (24) and Eshani Lokusuriyage (13) chipping in as Australia made consistent in-roads.
Ellyse Perry, Kristen Beams and Nicole Bolton all claimed two wickets apiece but Atapattu proved immoveable, striking powerfully down the ground to register a strike-rate of 124.47.
Lanning's rate of 112.59 was only a fraction slower - the Australian skipper adding 133 for the second wicket with Nicole Bolton (60 off 71) after Sripali Weerakkody removed Beth Moody for a sixth-ball duck.
The pair reached fifties off successive deliveries before Bolton, who struck a hundred against the West Indies on Monday, drove Shashikala Siriwardene to backward point, Lanning going on to register her hundred off exactly hundred balls with successive fours.
Ellyse Perry (39no) kept up the momentum, rotating the strike well striking in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 124 with Lanning, who hit one six and 19 fours off 135 balls.
Our live coverage of the Women's World Cup continues on Sunday when you can watch FOUR games on Sky Sports.
Don't miss England against Sri Lanka - that one is on Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports Mix and our free live stream on skysports.com and the Sky Sports mobile and iPad apps from 10.20am.
You can watch India against Pakistan live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am. Alternatively you can sign in to watch Australia against New Zealand on Sky Sports Xtra and the iPad, while South Africa's match against West Indies will be available on the iPad only from 10.20am.
