Chamari Athapaththu has blasted the Sydney Thunder to a second straight win to start their WBBL season, beating the Melbourne Renegades by eight wickets.
In a thoroughly one-sided affair at Sydney's Cricket Central on Thursday, Athapaththu hit 80 from 54 balls as the Thunder chased down the Renegades' 5-147 with 15 balls to spare.
After winning only one game last season, the Thunder have now already doubled their account this campaign.
And they have done it off the back of Athapaththu, who was overlooked by all teams in the overseas player draft and only called in late as a replacement.
Her innings on Thursday came as part of a 99-run opening stand with Tahlia Wilson, who hit 28 before she was bowled by Georgia Wareham.
The Sri Lankan hit 52 and took 3-20 against the Sydney Sixers on Sunday, before continuing that monstrous form on Thursday against her former club the Renegades.
Athapaththu smashed 13 fours and two sixes in her knock, dispatching the Renegades to all parts of the ground to completely seize control of the match.
She brought up her half-century with a big six down the ground off Ella Hayward, after hitting the spinner for three boundaries earlier in the over.
Another six came in the same fashion, lofting Wareham over long off, before she was caught at cow corner next ball.
But any thoughts of a Thunder wobble were quickly brushed off, with Heather Knight and Phoebe Litchfield steering the hosts home.
"I got an opportunity in the last minute to come play, and I grabbed it," Athapaththu said.
"I missed The Hundred in (England), I missed the WPL (in India) and then the WBBL, the three big franchises.
"But I keep trying and finally I am here and able to do my best for my team."
Athapaththu had earlier claimed the key Renegades wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur, when the Indian superstar was caught behind for 11.
Litchfield also pulled off the play of the day, charging in from the mid-wicket boundary to run out Tammy Beaumont (23 off 20 balls) with a direct hit.
Only Wareham really got going for the Renegades with the bat, making a late 47 not out from 34 balls, as the Renegades went along at a tick over a run a ball for most of their innings.
The result leaves the Renegades with one win from their opening three games, having been beaten by Brisbane before toppling Adelaide this week.
