Dominant Athapaththu guides Thunder to successive wins

Chamari Athapaththu has blasted the Sydney Thunder to a second straight win to start their Weber WBBL season, beating the Melbourne Renegades by eight wickets.

In a thoroughly one-sided affair at Sydney's Cricket Central on Thursday, Athapaththu hit 80 from 54 balls as the Thunder chased down the Renegades' 5-147 with 15 balls to spare.

Her innings came as part of a 99-run opening stand with Tahlia Wilson, who hit 28 before she was bowled by Georgia Wareham.

Only called into the squad late as an overseas replacement player, Athapaththu has been instrumental in the Thunder's opening two wins.

The Sri Lankan hit 52 and took 3-20 against the Sydney Sixers on Sunday, before continuing that dominant form on Thursday against her former club.

Athapaththu smashed 13 fours and two sixes in her knock, dispatching the Renegades to all parts of the ground to completely seize control of the match.

She brought up her half-century with a big six down the ground off Ella Hayward, after hitting the spinner for three boundaries earlier in the over.

Another six came in the same fashion, lofting Wareham over long off, before she was caught at cow corner next ball.

But any thought of a Thunder wobble was quickly brushed off, with Heather Knight and Phoebe Litchfield steering the hosts home.

The victory means the Thunder have already doubled their win tally of one victory from last season.

Athapaththu had earlier also claimed the key wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur, when the Indian superstar was caught behind for 11.

Litchfield also pulled off the play of the day, charging in from the mid-wicket boundary to run out Tammy Beaumont (23 off 20 balls) with a direct hit.

Only Wareham really got going for the Renegades with the bat, making a late 47 not out from 34 balls, as the Renegades went along at a tick over a run a ball for most of their innings.

The result leaves the Renegades with one win from their opening three games, having been beaten by Brisbane before toppling Adelaide this week.

Weber WBBL|09 Standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Adelaide Strikers Women STR	14	11	3	0	0	1.154	0	22
2 Perth Scorchers Women SCO	14	8	6	0	0	0.784	0	16
3 Brisbane Heat Women HEA	14	8	6	0	0	0.203	0	16
4 Sydney Thunder Women THU	14	7	6	0	1	0.298	0	15
5 Sydney Sixers Women SIX	14	7	7	0	0	-0.253	0	14
6 Hobart Hurricanes Women HUR	14	6	7	0	1	-0.597	0	13
7 Melbourne Stars Women STA	14	6	8	0	0	-0.779	0	12
8 Melbourne Renegades Women REN	14	2	12	0	0	-0.978	0	4

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points

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