Women's World Cup: Chamari Atapattu secures third-highest ODI score in women's cricket

Australia maintained an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, in a game highlighted by two brilliant centuries at the Women's World Cup.

Chamari Atapattu entertained the crowd at Bristol with the third-highest ODI score in women's cricket, flaying 22 fours and six sixes on her way to an unbeaten 178 off 143 balls, as the Sri Lankans finished their 50 overs on 8-259.

Chamari Atapattu made the third-highest score in women's ODI history against Australia.

But what looked like a challenging total proved well within Australia's capabilities, as a captain's knock of 152 not out from Meg Lanning spearheaded a successful chase, that finished on 2-262 with 37 balls to spare, ABC online reported.

The Australian bowlers made a fine start, with opener Nipuni Hansika bowled for a duck by Ellyse Perry off the third ball of the innings, but that brought Atapattu to the crease.

She added 49 for the second wicket with Chamari Polgampola (6) and then continued to dominate the scoring, as she took to the Australian bowling.

The next highest scorers were Shashikala Siriwardene with 24, and extras with 19, as Atapattu finished with 69 per cent of Sri Lanka's runs.