After the World Cup 2023, Sri Lanka was facing a tough time. Their entire cricket board was going through some drastic changes. They received a ban by the ICC, but finally, they are out of the ban and currently, facing Afghanistan in an ODI series. In the first ODI of the series, Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka broke the 24-year-old record by Sanath Jayasuriya. That caught the limelight.Â
Nissanka’s Record-Breaking Innings:
Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s talented top-order batsman, smashed his way into the record books by becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a double century in One Day International (ODI) cricket. At just 25 years old, he joins an elite group of eleven players worldwide to achieve this feat. His remarkable innings came during Sri Lanka’s match against Afghanistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where he played a magnificent knock.
Nissanka’s historic double century, achieved with Sri Lanka at 370/2, surpassed Sanath Jayasuriya’s longstanding record of 189 runs, previously the highest ODI score by a Sri Lankan for over two decades. This incredible achievement also establishes a new record for the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan player at home ground, rewriting the history books once again.
Sanath Jayasuriya played an excellent knock of 189 runs against India at the Sharjah Stadium in 2000. While batting first, Jayasuriya came to open the innings along with Romesh Kaluwitharana. While opening, the Sri Lankan legend scored 189 runs in 161 balls. He smashed 21 boundaries and 4 over-boundaries with a strike rate of 117.39. With that exceptional inning, Sri Lanka defeated India by 245 runs.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan First ODI:
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series. On February 9, they met at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka for the first match. While batting first, Nissanka remained unbeaten on 210 runs in 139 runs with 20 boundaries and 8 over-boundaries. Avishka Fernando scored 88 runs in 88 balls. Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 45 runs in 36 balls. In 50 overs, Sri Lanka scored 381/3.
The Afghan bowlers tried well but failed to make an impact in the first innings. Fareed Ahmed picked up 2 wickets in 79 runs. Mohammad Nabi took 1 wicket in 44 runs. No other bowler got any wickets. Afghanistan started their batting. In the first over they are 5/0.
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