Despite being disregarded in the draft, Chamari Athapaththu wins Player of the Tournament.
After being left out of the first player draft, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu has been named the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) ninth edition Player of the Tournament.
Chamari Athapaththu voiced her disappointment at not being selected in the WBBL 09 player draft. After being disregarded in both the Women’s Premier League and the Women’s Hundred, Athapaththu shared a social media post following her WBBL rejection.
Following Sri Lanka Women’s victory over England Women in the second Twenty20 International of a three-match series in Chelmsford, this occurred. After hitting 55 (31) and 11 off three overs in that game, Athapaththu was named Player of the Match.
Nevertheless, by happenstance, Athapaththu was able to make her WBBL debut when Sydney Thunder signed her as a replacement foreign player. Athapaththu took a chance on their first game since Marizanne Kapp was unable to play, and they never looked back.
Athapaththu amassed 511 runs from 13 innings at an average of 42.58 and a strike rate of nearly 130 by the conclusion of the league stage, with five or more scores of fifty or more. At that point, she was only trailed in runs scored by Beth Mooney.
But that wasn’t all. Athapaththu not only scored the second-most runs but also claimed nine wickets at an average of 25.55, giving up just 6.79 runs per over.
Her exclusion from the first WBBL player draft was puzzling. Athapaththu has been in incredible form in 2023 when it comes to international cricket, leading Sri Lanka Women to their first series victory over New Zealand Women in ODIs and first series victory over England Women in T20Is.
She averaged 18 and struck at 95 from over 30 matches last season, to be fair. However, her T20I (470 runs at 31.33, SR 131) and ODI (415 runs at 69.16, SR 125) records this year were too strong to be overlooked.
She has now received her just desserts. Throughout WBBL 09, the standing umpires selected the Player of the Tournament, and Athapaththu defeated Adelaide Strikers opener Katie Mack by a single vote.
Thank you very much my Thunder family Sydney Thunder
I was able to achieve this kind of achievement because of everyone’s support.
I am forever indebted to you for giving me a chance when most teams in the world would have rejected me.
Let’s go team again today. chamari’s Says.
Sydney Thunder finished fourth on the points table at the end of the group stage and will be facing Brisbane Heat in the Eliminator at the WACA Ground in Perth today (November 28).
Sportzlanka.com
