Sri Lanka’s women’s team victory is less than 24-hours-old. The wind is still fresh, tributes are still plundering, and the team is still celebrating and rejoicing.
This women’s team vanquished the strong, formidable, unbeaten, and former Asia Cup winners, India, to clinch the Asia cup for the very first time in history.
It wasn’t about just winning, it was more about rewriting the history, stamping the authority, and conquering a dream. Two years ago, Chamari Athapathu would have not thought what her side would become today as for ages the responsibility of the women’s side was on her shoulders, all alone.
But now, she has others. Against India, Harshitha Samarawickrama rose to the occasion. When Chamari was bowled out around her legs, Harshitha was playing at 29 odd runs, run a ball.
“I wanted to get at least another 20-30 runs, because I knew if I brought the target closer the team would be able to do the rest,” – said Chamari
Although players were instrumental in this historic chase, the management staff was impressive too. Rumesh Ratnayake was appointed the head coach of this talented side exactly 18 months ago, and he instilled self-belief and confidence in the players, which the team was lacking.
“The staff has given us huge support,” Athapaththu said. “They’ve brought in so much in terms of thinking positively, keeping certain things in the past. If a catch is dropped or if there’s a marginal call on a decision, we don’t discuss those things. We only look at how to score better in the next game, how to make sure we take the next catch that comes.”
But getting back to Harshitha? She was amazing to say the least and was under pressure too, not because of the match condition but due to her fumble fielding.
Harshitha dropped Smriti Mandhana on 10 as she went on to score 47-ball-60, and then she dropped Richa Ghosh on 5. This helped India to secure their target around 166. And if anything, Harshita was regretting.
Nevertheless, she leashed her blade, smashed a well-crafted fifty, and complemented Dilhari as the duo went on to gun down the target with 8 balls to spare.
A packed stadium was rejoiced and this victory will inspire countless young girls to dream of picking up a bat.
Chamari revealed that she has told Harshitha if i got out you have to complete the job and she did.
“Once something like that happens, you can’t live with that feeling. You gotta just focus on what needs to be done next. We have to look at what we can and can’t control. Yes, Harshitha dropped some catches, but she came out and played a match-winning innings.I spoke to her at that point and said ‘that’s over, focus on the next thing’ because we needed her in the right mindset to bat.
“When I was batting with Harshitha, I told her not to do anything rash. I’ll play my natural game, but if I get out, you’re going to have to be the one to finish it.”
After this point, Sri Lanka’s women cricket will see a rise, a well-deserved rise, and new dreams will be born. It will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of female cricketers around the globe to make up their way to stadiums in order to be the Chamari Athapathtu for their nation, for their team!
