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Athapaththu won the captain's century battle as she carried her bat to guide
Sri Lanka to a historic victory against the Proteas women in Wednesday's third
and final ODI in Potchefstroom.
Despite chasing a mammoth 302 thanks to captain Laura Wolvaardt's career-best ton, Sri Lanka clinched a remarkably easy six-wicket victory and, in turn, completed the highest-ever run chase in women's ODI cricket.
This also ends Sri Lanka's most successful tour of South Africa, where they won the T20I series 2-1 and drew the three-match ODI series 1-1.
The JB Marks Oval crowd were treated to a run-fest as Wolvaardt made history by achieving the highest-ever ODI score by an SA woman, but then witnessed Athapaththu carrying her bat to eclipse the Proteas captain and score the third-highest ODI score of all-time.
Chasing a record 302 to win, Sri Lanka were not daunted by the target as they took advantage of a flat and quick wicket.
A 90-run opening stand formed between the in-form Athapaththu and opener Vishmi Gunaratne to get them off to the perfect start before the latter was trapped LBW for 26 off Delmi Tucker.
Three quick wickets fell in succession as Nadine de Klerk dismissed Prasadani Weerakkody (4), and then Ayabonga Khaka, playing in her 100th ODI, saw the back of Hansima Karunaratne (3) and Kavisha Dilhari (0).
The momentum had quickly shifted back to the hosts as Sri Lanka struggled at 126-4, but it didn't last too long as Athapaththu had other ideas.
Athapaththu, who scored a fifty in the second ODI, continued her sublime form and attacked the powerless Proteas bowling attack.
She soon found her ideal partner in Nilakshika Silva (50 not out for 71) as the duo put on a record unbeaten 179-run stand to get the visitors over the line.
However, there were several chances. Athapaththu was dropped on 128 and 171 as the Proteas showed a lack of effort in the field, leaking easy runs and misfielding on several occasions.
Athapaththu made history as she scored the third-highest individual score in women's ODI cricket, remaining unbeaten on 195 off 139 balls (hitting 26 fours and five sixes) as Sri Lanka eased to victory with 33 balls to spare.
Earlier on, Wolvaardt gave a batting masterclass, scoring the highest-ever score in a women's ODI for South Africa as she blasted 184 off 147 balls against Sri Lanka in the third ODI.
Wolvaardt got off to a solid start as she dominated in the opening partnership of 116 with Lara Goodall (31 off 55).
Once Sri Lanka broke that partnership, the Proteas stumbled as Delmi Tucker was run out for one and the struggling Sune Luus was trapped LBW to Athapaththu for a duck.
South Africa regained their impetus somewhat thanks to a 63-run stand between Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp (36) before the all-rounder was run out.
Wolvaardt also then went on to share a 92-run sixth-wicket stand with Nadine de Klerk, who scored 35.
The 24-year-old Wolvaardt brought up her second-consecutive ODI century and seventh overall, but this time, the 24-year-old wanted to end the 2023/24 summer season with a bang.
The stylish opening batter went on to surpass her own highest-individual ODI score of 149 set in 2017 against Ireland also in Potchefstroom, and smashed a stunning unbeaten 184 off 147 balls (hitting 23 fours and four sixes).
Scores in brief:
South Africa 301-5 in 50 overs (Wolvaardt 184*, Kapp 36, Dilhari 2/47, Athapaththu 1/59)
Sri Lanka 306-4 in 44.3 overs (Athapaththu 195*, De Silva 50*, Khaka 2/54, Tucker 1/42)
Result: Sri Lanka won by six wickets with 33 balls to spare.
17 April 20:29
40-over update:
Sri Lanka are on course to record the highest successful ODI run-chase - previous highest is 289 between Australia and New Zealand in 2012.
Athapaththu has shouldered the innings as they need less than a run-a-ball to achieve the target of 302. Meanwhile, the Proteas bowling attack has no answers as they continue to leak unnecessary runs...
SL 258-4 in 40
Athapaththu 163*
De Silva 39*
Sri Lanka need 51 off 66 balls
17 April 20:09
35-over update:
The game is slipping away from the Proteas women as Sri Lanka continue to rotate the strike and pick up the odd boundary here and there.
An unbeaten 96-run unbeaten stand has formed between Athapaththu and De Silva as they sit comfortably on par to chase down 302.
South Africa needs a wicket urgently!
SL 222-4 after 35
Athapaththu 143*
De Silva 24*
Sri Lanka need 80 runs from 90 balls
17 April 19:34
CENTURY
Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu smashes a lovely straight drive boundary to bring up her 9th ODI hundred off 78 balls.
Athapaththu is keeping Sri Lanka in the run-chase as they need 133 runs from 138 balls.
SL 169-4 after 27
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta will not return to the field as a "precaution due to a suspected shoulder injury" after successfully taking the wicket catch off Khaka. Uncapped Karabo Meso has taken over the gloves for the reminder of the match.
17 April 19:17
KHAKA STRIKES TWICE
In her 100th ODI appearance for the Proteas, Ayabonga Khaka strikes with two wickets in the 21st over.
Khaka first gets Hansima Karunaratne to edge a wide delivery behind for three and then Kavisha Dilhari tries to flick it to the legside but gets an edge behind to the keeper for a two-ball duck.
At the other end, watching all the chaos is skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who remains strong in her eighties but is running out of partners.
SL 130-4 in 22 overs
Sri Lanka need 172 runs from 168 balls
17 April 18:41
15-over update:
An unbeaten 90-run opening stand has formed between captain Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne as the Proteas bowling attack have struggled to get the breakthrough.
Athapaththu brings up her second-consecutive ODI fifty and reaches her 17th ODI half-century off 41 balls.
There's some cause of concern as South Africa were 85-0 after their 15 overs, and Sri Lanka are well on track as they keep up with the required run-rate of 6.05.
SL 90-0 after 15
Athapaththu 57*
Gunaratne 26*
17 April 17:16
Skipper Wolvaardt delivers batting masterclass, shatters record as Proteas go big in Potch
Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt gave a batting masterclass on Wednesday as she scored the highest-ever score in a women's ODI for South Africa as she blasted 184 off 147 balls against Sri Lanka in the third ODI.
Opening the batting, Wolvaardt started off like a house on fire, reaching her 50 in the 11th over as she dominated a partnership of 116 with Lara Goodall (31 off 55).
Once Sri Lanka broke that partnership, the Proteas stumbled somewhat as they lost Delmi Tucker, run out for 1 and Sune Luus, LBW, to Chamari Athapaththu for a duck.
South Africa regained their impetus as Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp (36) put on 63 for the fifth wicket, as Wolvaardt went to her 7th ODI century off 100 balls.
From there, the stylish strokemaker opened up as, together with Nadine de Klerk (35), the pair attacked the Sri Lankan bowling, putting on 92 for the sixth wicket in just under 12 overs.
Wolvaardt ended her innings with a flurry of boundaries in the final over to get South Africa over the 300 mark and finished with 23 fours and 4 sixes.
The 24-year-old Wolvaardt bettered her own highest-individual ODI score of 149 against Ireland also in Potchefstroom in 2017.
The Proteas currently lead the three match series 1-0.
Scores in brief:
Proteas 301/5 (Wolvaardt 184*, Kapp 36, De Klerk 35)
Sri Lanka need 302 to win.
17 April 15:57
TON-UP FOR WOLVAARDT!
Excellent work from the Proteas skipper as she registers her 7th ODI 100, and it's back to back centuries as well.
Her 100 comes off 100 balls with 15 fours and one six.
17 April 15:39
BACK-TO-BACK WICKETS
Oh dear! Sri Lanka have shifted the momentum as the Proteas women lose back-to-back wickets in the 25th over.
Wolvaardt calls for a single off a misfield and Delmi Tucker hesitates and is comfortably run out at the danger end for 1.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu gets her first scalp as new batter Sune Luus doesn't last long and is trapped LBW.
Luus' woes with the bat continues as she tries to flick it legside but it hits her back pad and the finger goes up. Luus departs for a golden duck.
SA 125-3 after 25
17 April 15:27
WICKET
The 116-run unbeaten stand between the opening pair has broken with Lara Goodall dismissed.
Kavisha Dilhari gets the breakthrough for Sri Lanka as Goodall doesn't quite get the middle of the bat and hits it straight to the fielder at mid-off.
Goodall has to depart for 31 off 55. Delmi Tucker joins a set-in Wolvaardt, who has moved into the eighties.
SA 117-1 in 22
17 April 15:01
15-over update:
Wolvaardt has gotten the Proteas off to a flyer as she has smashed 13 fours and six in her innings so far.
Witnessing a Wolvaardt masterclass on the other end, opener Lara Goodall, who is playing in her 50th ODI, has started to find her feet and is going strong as the Proteas look to kick on.
SA 85-0 after 15
Wolvaardt 66*
Goodall 18*
17 April 14:43
FIFTY
Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt brings up her 32nd ODI half-century off just 35 balls.
Her stunning form continues as Wolvaardt leads from the front with another quick fifty, this coming off the back of her unbeaten 110 in the second ODI.
Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall have also put on an unbeaten fifty-run opening stand as Sri Lanka search for the breakthrough on a fast Potchefstroom pitch.
SA 70-0 after 11
17 April 13:38
TOSS:
Sri Lanka have won the toss and chose to BOWL first in the deciding ODI in Potchefstroom.
The Proteas women are unchanged.
South Africa XI:
Laura Wolvaardt (c), Lara Goodall, Delmi Tucker, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Eliz-mari Marx, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba
