Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu said a fearless approach was key to her team’s upset three-run win against hosts South Africa in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. 

“No one expects Sri Lanka to win,” she said. “We had no pressure so we could play fearless cricket. In this format rankings is just a number.” Athapaththu’s 68 off 50 balls enabled Sri Lanka to make 129 for four after they were sent in to bat. Sri Lanka restricted South Africa to 126 for nine with accurate slow bowling backed by good fielding. Left-arm spin bowler Inoka Ranaweera took three key wickets and conceded only 18 runs in four overs, while fellow left-armer Sugandika Kumari and off-spinner Oshadhi Ranasinghe took two wickets apiece as South Africa were unable to put together any substantial partnerships.