[Watch] 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne hits a boundary to become only second Sri Lanka batter to reach 100 in women's limited-overs games
Vishmi Gunaratne has become only the second Sri Lanka women’s batter to hit a century in white-ball cricket during the first ODI against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, August 16. The right-handed batter achieved the landmark by scoring 101 runs off 98 balls, a knock laced with three sixes and nine boundaries. She took just 16 ODIs to script history.
Gunaratne achieved the triple-figure mark as she scored a boundary off Arlene Kelly in the 31st over of the Sri Lanka innings. However, the 18-year-old was dismissed on the next ball, caught by Leah Paul.
Sharing the video on X, Sri Lanka Cricket wrote:
"Vishmi Gunaratne blasts her way into the record books with her maiden ODI century! The second Sri Lankan woman to achieve this feat. What a moment!"
Notably, captain Chamari Athapaththu is the other Sri Lanka batter to score tons for the country in limited-overs internationals. Athapaththu has nine tons in the 50-over format. The 34-year-old has also scored three hundreds in T20Is. Former Australia captain Meg Lanning holds the record for most centuries for women in international cricket (17 tons, including two in T20Is).
Vishmi Gunaratne’s century helps Sri Lanka fight back against Ireland
A clinical batting display from Vishmi Gunaratne helped Sri Lanka fight back against Ireland after losing two early wickets. She shared a 122-run partnership with Hasini Perera after the visitors were reduced to 35-2 after eight overs.
At the time of writing, the Lankan women were 198/5 after 40 overs, with Nilakshi de Silva and Anushka Sanjeewani at the crease. Alana Dalzell has been the pick of the bowlers for Ireland, scalping two wickets so far.
The two teams recently faced off in a two-match T20I series, which ended in a 1-1 tie. Sri Lanka won the opening game by seven wickets, thanks to a sensational chase by Harshitha Samarawickrama (86 off 45). The hosts bounced back to win the second match by seven runs, courtesy of a century from Gaby Lewis (119 off 75).
Sri Lanka and Ireland will next lock horns in the second ODI at the same venue on Sunday, August 18.
Follow the SL vs IRE 1st ODI live score and updates here.