Sri Lankan batsman Pathum Nissanka created history in the first SL vs AFG ODI match and slammed a double hundred. Nissanka played an innings of 210 runs from 139 balls and hit a total of 20 fours and eight sixes during his stay at the crease. Nissanka became the tenth batsman to hit a double century in ODI cricket.
Pathum Nissanka became the third fastest batsman by leaving behind Indian legend Virender Sehwag and ‘universe boss’ Chris Gayle to hit a double hundred. Gayle slammed the double century in 138 balls whereas Sehwag achieved the milestone in 140 balls. Nissanka reached the milestone in 136 balls.
Pathum Nissanka scripts history against Afghanistan
Pathum Nissanka also became the first Sri Lankan batsman to smash a double century in ODI cricket and now holds the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman in the 50-over format. Nissanka went passed veteran Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya who held the record previously. Jayasuriya had scored 189 runs against India in 2000 against India.
Young Indian opener Ishan Kishan currently holds the record of slamming the fastest century in ODI cricket and reached the mark in 126 balls against Bangladesh. Australia’s Glenn Maxwell is on the second spot and reached the mark in 128 balls against Afghanistan in the recently concluded ODI World Cup.
Pathum Nissanka joined the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill, Fakhar Zaman, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and Glenn Maxwell who have slammed double hundreds in the 50 over format.
Batting first Sri Lanka were able to put up a score of 381 runs for the loss of three wickets. The Sri Lankan team were off to a brilliant start as openers Nissanka and Avishka Fernando added 182 runs for the first wicket. Fernando got out for 88 runs whereas Nissanka continued his attack from the other end. Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis was not able to contribute much with the bat and got out for 16 runs.
Sadeera Samarawickrama played an innings of 44 runs from 36 balls and hit a total of four fours and 1 six during his time at the crease. Pathum Nissanka smashed all the Afghanistan bowlers to all the parts of the ground and the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai and Fareed Ahmad went for over 8 runs an over. The Afghanistan team have a tough job in their hands and Sri Lanka would have a chance of registering a heavy win.
Afghanistan were playing without the likes of big names such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The Afghani team has an inexperienced batting lineup which consists of the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Gulbadin Naib.
Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka in their previous ODI encounter during the ODI World Cup 2023. The Afghani team would want to continue their momentum against the Sri Lankan Lions. However, Sri Lanka registered a ten-wicket win against Afghanistan in the inaugural match of the tour. Sri Lanka won the match by ten wickets and were able to make a brilliant statement.