Sri Lanka storms into the top five ODI rankings for the first time after a comprehensive whitewash against the West Indies. The Sri Lankan women’s team led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu is having a sensational time in the ODI format this year.
Sri Lanka’s sensational record in ODIs in 2024
They have a sensational win record of around 67% in the One Day International format this year. Their solitary defeat in the ODIs this year came on 13th April 2024, in the 2nd ODI against South Africa. The first ODI of the three-match ODI series against South Africa in April, earlier this year, ended in a no result, as it was washed out.
The Chamari Athapaththu-led side is currently hosting the West Indies led by skipper Hayley Matthews for a white-ball series that includes a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series. The series commenced on 15th June 2024. Sri Lanka completed a thrashing white-wash in the ODI series after 21 years, and defeated the West Indies in the ODI series after 16 years.
Leading run-scorers and wicket-takers in ODIs for Sri Lanka in 2024
The 18-year-old Sri Lankan opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne was the leading run-scorer of the ODI series with 134 runs at a strike rate of 83.22 and an impressive average of 44.66 to her name in three innings. Her tally of runs included one half-century. She was awarded the Player of the Series for her sensational performances with the bat throughout the series. She is also the 2nd highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the ODI format this year, with 176 runs at a strike rate of 71.25 and an impressive average of 35.20 in six innings. Her tally of runs includes one half-century that came on 18th June 2024 in the 2nd ODI at Hambantota.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with the bat as she is currently the leading run-scorer in the ODI format for Sri Lanka this year with 388 runs at a strike rate of 103.19 and an exceptional average of 97 in six innings. Her tally of runs includes a couple of half-centuries and a century. Her best performance with the bat came on 17th April 2024, when she scored an unbeaten 195 in the 3rd ODI at Potchefstroom. She played an instrumental role in guiding Sri Lanka to their highest successful run chase (302 runs) in the women’s ODIs. She was the 2nd highest run-scorer with 130 runs to her name at a strike rate of 87.24 and an impressive average of 43.33 in three innings in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies.
The 23-year-old spin bowling all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari is currently the leading wicket-taker with the ball in ODIs for Sri Lanka this year with 11 wickets to her name at a strike rate of 24.09, an average of 18.36 and an economy of 4.57 in five innings. Her best performance with the ball came on 18th June 2024 in the 2nd ODI against the West Indies when she returned with brilliant, career-best figures (6-0-20-4) in her spell. She was also the leading wicket-taker of the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies with seven wickets to her name at a strike rate of 13, an average of 8.71 and an economy of 4.02 in a couple of innings with the ball.
A Historic rise in the ODI Rankings
The Sri Lankan Women’s team were placed 7th in the ODI team rankings at the start of this year. However, after the completion of a dominating series whitewash on their home soil against the touring West Indians have played a pivotal part in their record-breaking rise in the latest team rankings in the ODI format. They have climbed up a couple of spots to the 5th position with 1368 points and a rating of 98 in the latest ODI Rankings, jumping ahead of New Zealand. It is the first time ever for the “Lankan Lionesses” that they have managed to enter the top five in the Women’s ODI Team Rankings.
