DUBAI: In a remarkable feat, Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of Sri Lanka, has etched her name in history by becoming the first player from her country to claim the top spot in the ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings. The rankings were released on Tuesday following her outstanding performance with the bat, which propelled her team to a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in the recently concluded series.

Athapaththu's phenomenal series against New Zealand witnessed a stunning display of skill, earning her a total of 248 runs across three matches. Her extraordinary knock of 140 not out off just 80 deliveries in the final game played a pivotal role in securing an improbable series triumph for her side.

This monumental achievement marks the first time Sri Lanka has defeated New Zealand in a bilateral women's ODI series, largely credited to the exceptional performance of their inspirational skipper, Athapaththu.

In the opening match of the three-game series, the 33-year-old batswoman struck an unbeaten 108, setting the tone for the rest of the contests. Even a first-ball duck in the second match failed to deter the confident left-hander as she approached the decisive game with unwavering aggression.

During her electrifying innings, Athapaththu unleashed a flurry of nine massive sixes, forming an impressive 190-run partnership for the third wicket with her teammate Nilakshi de Silva. This stands as Sri Lanka's highest-ever partnership in women's ODIs.

By accomplishing this remarkable feat, Athapaththu not only secured the top spot in the women's ODI rankings but also joined her male compatriot Sanath Jayasuriya as the only two players from Sri Lanka to have held the coveted No.1 position in the history of ODI rankings for batting. In the women's category, only two other Sri Lanka players have attained the number one spot in the rankings, both in 2014: left-arm seam bowler Udeshika Prabodhani (T20I bowling) and all-rounder Shashikala Siriwardene (T20I all-rounders).

On the other hand, Kavisha Dilhari has made significant strides, climbing 19 places to secure the 37th position among batters, while Prabodhani's exceptional performance has elevated her by 14 places to claim the 32nd position among bowlers. These impressive advancements demonstrate the growing prowess of Sri Lanka's women players in international cricket.

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