August 17, 2024

Chamari Athapaththu signs three-season WBBL deal with Sydney Thunder

Sydney Thunder has signed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for the next three seasons through a pre-draft deal ahead of WBBL 2024-25, starting on October 27. Athapaththu, who joined Thunder last season as an undrafted player, was a standout performer, finishing as the Player of the Tournament. She scored 552 runs at an average of 42.46 and took nine wickets, helping Thunder secure a fourth-place finish.

“Committing to Sydney Thunder for the next three seasons was an easy decision because I believe in the vision of this club, and I want to be part of its future success,” Athapaththu said.

“There’s so much to love about my Sydney Thunder family. My team-mates are not just colleagues; they are friends who push each other to be better every day, [which] is important to me. Western Sydney is the heart and soul of Sydney Thunder and representing such a diverse and vibrant community is a privilege to have. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”

In a change from previous seasons where overseas players in the Women Big Bash League (WBBL) were contracted for just one year, Chamari Athapaththu has signed a multi-year deal under the league’s new provision. This rule allows each club to sign one overseas player for up to three years outside of the draft, which is set to take place on September 1.

“Chamari is obviously an exceptional cricket player, but she is also an exceptional human being who is team first and fan first,” Sydney Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said. “We know other teams were interested in signing her, but we made every effort to ensure she came back. To see the way she embraced and engaged with our members and fans last summer was something pretty special and on the field she had one of the WBBL’s great seasons.”

Chamari Athapaththu has previously played in the WBBL with Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers. Last season, after going undrafted, she joined the Sydney Thunder as cover for their three overseas players. Thunder will kick off their 2024-25 season against Hobart Hurricanes on October 28.

Sydney Thunder Updated Squad

Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Saskia Horley, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson

Birmingham Phoenix secure eliminator spot after wet 30-ball thrash

Phoenix Set to Face Southern Brave in Eliminator; Invincibles Secure Spot in Final

Birmingham Phoenix 42 for 1 (Duckett 22*) beat Manchester Originals 41 for 5 (Milne 2-8) by nine wickets

Birmingham Phoenix will take on Southern Brave in The Hundred Eliminator at The Kia Oval on Saturday, following a dominant nine-wicket win over Manchester Originals in a rain-shortened match at Edgbaston.

In a game reduced to 30 balls per side due to rain, Phoenix comfortably chased down their target of 42. Jamie Smith set the tone by hitting two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening five balls. Despite a brief pause in the scoring, Ben Duckett powered Phoenix forward, hitting Tom Aspinwall for three boundaries and a six, even as rain continued to fall.

Although Smith was caught at the boundary for 14, Duckett (22*) and Moeen Ali (6*) guided Phoenix to victory with eight balls to spare, sealing the win with a six from Moeen.

Earlier, Phoenix won the toss and chose to bowl. Adam Milne struck early, dismissing Matthew Hurst on the second legal delivery of the match, setting the stage for a controlled bowling performance that limited Manchester Originals to just 41 for 5.

Manchester Originals Struggle Against Phoenix’s Dominant Bowling Attack

Adam Milne’s fellow New Zealander, Tim Southee, started his over by getting hit for a six by Phil Salt, who then sliced the final ball of the powerplay over short third-man, taking Manchester Originals to 15 for 1.

At the halfway mark, the Originals were struggling at 22 for 2. Salt (12) misjudged a cross-batted shot off Milne’s 15th delivery, allowing Liam Livingstone to secure his second catch of the night.

Sean Abbott then dismissed Paul Walter (1) with a catch at deep cover, leaving the Originals at 24 for 3. Max Holden (15) kept swinging, managing to edge another boundary off Southee, but his luck ran out when he couldn’t clear mid-off, giving Livingstone his third catch.

Chris Wood finished the innings strongly, giving up only three runs and dismissing Sikandar Raza, who was caught by Jacob Bethell at deep midwicket. The Originals ended on 41 for 5, managing just one six in their innings.

With only 42 runs needed for victory, Birmingham Phoenix chased it down comfortably, securing their spot in the Eliminator and ensuring Northern Superchargers finished fourth under Andrew Flintoff’s first year as head coach in the Twenty20 Cricket League.

Meerkat Match Hero Milne, who took 2 for 8, said: “To come out of the shortened game and into The Hundred Eliminator is very good for us.

“There was a little bit of swing and seam so it was nice to use that first up, but in these shortened games anything can happen, so [you] just mix it up.

“Anytime it’s moving around off the straight it’s nice. There’s been lots said but as a bowler it’s nice to have a little bit going your way sometimes in these shorter formats, there can be flat wickets and not much movement, so it’s nice to see a bit of swing and seam occasionally.”