A magnificent 178 not out from Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu has set Australia a target of 258 for victory in the Women's Cricket World Cup clash at Bristol.
Athapaththu, who came the to the crease four balls into the innings after Nipuni Hansika was trapped lbw by Elysse Perry in the first over, guided her side to a competitive total thanks to brilliant display of clean hitting as she clubbed 22 fours and six sixes.
The 27-year-old was only one of three Sri Lankan players to reach double figures in their final score of 9-257, and her innings is the highest percentage (69.2) of runs scored by an individual in a women's ODI team total.
Australia skipper Meg Lanning had won the toss and elected to field on an overcast day in the west of England and her decision look to have been vindicated as Sri Lanka were reduced to 4-77.
Shashikala Siriwardene's 24 was the only other meaningful contribution with the bat from Sri Lanka, but despite regularly running out of partners at the crease, Athapaththu continued to frustrate the world champions with one of the finest innings ever by a female player.
Australia's bowlers shared the wickets between them with Perry, Kristen Beams and Nicole Bolton each bagging two apiece.
Megan Schutt, Ash Gardner and Elyse Vilani each took a wicket.
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