Chamari Athapaththu: We had no pressure, so we could play fearless cricket

Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu celebrates her half-century against SA at Cape Town on Friday. Pic/AFP

Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu said a fearless approach was key to her team's upset three-run win against hosts South Africa in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.

"No one expects Sri Lanka to win," she said. "We had no pressure so we could play fearless cricket. In this format rankings is just a number." Athapaththu's 68 off 50 balls enabled Sri Lanka to make 129 for four after they were sent in to bat. Sri Lanka restricted South Africa to 126 for nine with accurate slow bowling backed by good fielding. Left-arm spin bowler Inoka Ranaweera took three key wickets and conceded only 18 runs in four overs, while fellow left-armer Sugandika Kumari and off-spinner Oshadhi Ranasinghe took two wickets apiece as South Africa were unable to put together any substantial partnerships.

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Captain Sune Luus was the top-scorer with 28. The left-handed Athapaththu hit 12 fours and shared a second-wicket partnership of 86 with 17-year-old Vishmi Gunarathne, who made 35. They had to absorb early pressure and Sri Lanka scored only 40 runs in the first 10 overs before both players took the attack to the South African bowlers. "Vishmi is an up-and-coming young superstar," said Athapaththu. Luus said the difference between the sides was that Sri Lanka had a big partnership while South Africa had none. Their best stand was 29 for the first wicket between Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits.

"But now our focus is on our next game against Bangladesh." Sri Lanka play Bangladesh at Newlands on Sunday as part of an all-Asian double header which also features India and Pakistan. South Africa are faced with a huge task if they are to emerge from the group stage. Their next match is against New Zealand in Paarl on Monday. "The World Cup still has a long way to go," said Luus.

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