Australia has maintained its 100 per cent record at the Women's World Cup with an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, in a game highlighted by two brilliant centuries.
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.
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.
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.
Nicole Bolton — used as an extra bowler for the first time in her international career — took 2-18 off three overs.
In reply, Australian opener Beth Mooney fell for a duck in the second over, caught at slip by Atapattu off the bowling of medium-pacer Sripali Weerakkody.
Bolton was then joined by Lanning, and the pair settled in to establish a 133-run partnership at nearly a run a ball.
Bolton played the anchor role, scoring 60 off 71 balls before she departed in the 26th over.
All-rounder Perry came to the crease and the new pairing kept the tempo high, smashing the required 120 remaining runs in just 18 overs.
Lanning's unbeaten 152 included 19 fours and a six, while Perry scored 39 off 53 balls, helping to secure victory.
Australia has two wins from as many games — its next match is against New Zealand at Bristol on July 2.
