Clean-hitting Chamari eyes repeat against Australia

On the eve of first T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu insisted that her team would 'play freely' against the juggernaut that is the Australia women's cricket team.

Fast forward 24 hours, and it's hard to think how the Sri Lankan captain could possibly have done more to live up to this mantra.

Much to the delight of the strong Sri Lankan contingent in the crowd at North Sydney Oval, Athapaththu struck a superb 113 from 66 balls in a powerful knock littered with 18 boundaries.

"Today I score a century against Australia, the best team in the world," Athapaththu reflected after her side's 41-run loss.

"I am so happy, I just played my natural and normal game, positive cricket."

In an exciting development for the remaining two T20s, also to be played at North Sydney Oval, Athapaththu was quick to note that she would not be dwelling on her series opening heroics.

"This innings is now history, I now focus on the game (Monday evening) – that's it."

"Play freely, positive, courage. That's the three words I will say to my team."

Australia were able to hold onto victory courtesy of a record-breaking total of 217 put forward in the first innings, but Athapaththu's exploits are bound to leave the Australia brains trust with plenty to consider ahead of the second T20I fixture under lights on Monday.

The Sri Lanka opener was always shaping up as the danger player the Australians needed to factor into their game plans, with much of the pre-series dialogue drawing back to Athapaththu's 178 against Australia during the 2017 World Cup in England.

However, with the combined factors of Australia's recent domination of world cricket, the home ground advantage and the fact that Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia, it's unlikely many could've predicted the vigour with which Athapaththu would challenge the home side.

Fellow centurion, Australia opener Beth Mooney was full of praise for Athapaththu and admitted that there would be some re-thinking within the Australia camp before Monday night's rematch.

"She absolutely 'moosed' them," Mooney reflected after Australia's win.

"She's a clean striker of the ball and can take the game away from the opposition as she's done often in the past and she's done against us before."

"We'll have to have a sit down and rethink about our plans against her but yeah, she did really well, very impressive."

Despite the closer than desired finish to the match, Mooney conceded that the challenge presented a welcome test for the Australia squad as they look to perfect their T20 blueprint ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup on Australian turf in February next year.

"In terms of what we're trying to do in getting better and be the greatest team ever it's making sure we win games like that instead of losing them."

"We probably pegged her back pretty nicely and got her wicket at a really crucial stage and in the effort we haven't been able to do that so I think it was a pretty decent effort in the end."

The second T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka will be played under lights on Monday at North Sydney Oval. Fans can purchase tickets at cricket.com.au/tickets while the match will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Sports and Kayo.

CommBank Series v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns (T20I only), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Chamari Atapattu (c), Harshitha Madavi, Shashikala Siriwardena, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Yashoda Mendis, Nilakshi De Silva, Dilani Manodara, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandhika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Achini Kulasooriya, Udeshika Probodhani, Ama Kanchana.

First T20I: Australia won by 41 runs

Second T20I: September 30, North Sydney Oval, 7.10pm

Third T20I: October 2, North Sydney Oval, 10.10am

First ODI: October 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Second ODI:October 7, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Third ODI: October 9, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

*All ODIs are ICC Women's Championship matches