Athapaththu crosses 5000-run mark, but SL find themselves in deep waters against India

Sri Lanka Women's skipper Chamari Athapaththu has reached the coveted landmark of 5,000 international runs during the Women's Asia Cup 2022 final against India on Saturday (October 15) at Sylhet.

Indian and Sri Lankan skipper posing with the Asia Cup trophy [PC: Twitter]

Athapaththu made her international debut in a T20I fixture against India in June 2009, and since then has been a consistent run-scorer for her country. 

The 32-year-old is certainly the biggest superstar to originate from Sri Lanka in the history of women's cricket. She has proved her batting prowess in franchise leagues like WBBL, The Women's Hundred and Fairbreak Invitational League as well. 

To date, Athapaththu has garnered 2840 runs in 90 ODIs with six centuries. On the other hand, she has 2181 runs in 106 T20I appearances, comprising a solitary hundred. She now has 5,021 runs in the international circuit and tops the nation's batting charts.  

Under her leadership, Sri Lanka reached the finals of the Women's Asia Cup. However, they have started the fixture on a dismal note, wherein they have succumbed to proficient Indian bowlers and unfortunate run-outs.

Athapaththu could only score 6 off 12, before being run-out in the third over of the game. The team's top-scorer in the tournament, Harshitha Madavi also could not trouble the scores, as Sri Lanka are stuttering at 35/8 in 13 overs, at the time of writing.

Renuka Singh is the pick of the bowlers for the Women in Blue with three scalps. 

If India manages to secure a victory, it will be their seventh Asia Cup title victory in eight appearances since 2004. 

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