News by “Sana Ullah”
Pathum Nissanka etched his name in Sri Lankan cricket history as he became the first batter from the island nation to notch a double century in the 50-over format during an exhilarating clash against Afghanistan in the inaugural ODI.
His monumental innings of 210 not out, adorned with 20 boundaries and 8 maximums, catapulted him to the summit of Sri Lanka’s ODI record books, eclipsing the legendary 189 set by Sanath Jayasuria against India in 2000. Accompanied by notable contributions from opener Avishka Fernando (88) and middle-order stalwart Sadeera Samarawickrama (45), Sri Lanka amassed a formidable total of 381/3.
Opting to field after winning the toss, Afghanistan, led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, aimed to exploit the conditions at Pallekele. Reflecting on their previous encounter in the World Cup, where Afghanistan secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, the stage was set for a riveting contest.
However, Nissanka’s brilliance proved insurmountable for the Afghan bowlers, as he orchestrated a masterful display of batting prowess. Despite the efforts of Fareed Ahmad Malik, who claimed 2 wickets for 79 runs, Sri Lanka’s batting juggernaut remained relentless.
Looking back at their World Cup encounter, Afghanistan’s triumph was spearheaded by notable performances from Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s four-wicket haul restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total of 241, with Nissanka once again emerging as the top scorer with 46 runs.
As Nissanka’s record-breaking innings propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding victory, it marked a historic moment in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket, reaffirming the young batter’s status as a rising star in the international arena.
