NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan opener
Pathum Nissanka
achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score an ODI double century. His remarkable innings powered the hosts to an imposing total of 381 against
Afghanistan
in the series opener in Pallekele on Friday.
Nissanka remained unbeaten on an extraordinary score of 210, surpassing the previous record held by Sanath Jayasuriya, who had scored 189 against India in 2000.
Nissanka's innings also marked the joint fifth-highest individual score in the history of one-day internationals (
ODIs
).
Sri Lanka
's team total of 381-3 in this match not only set a new record for the highest score at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium but also ranked as the team's fourth-highest total in ODIs.
Nissanka's historic double century played a pivotal role in establishing this formidable total, making it a memorable moment in Sri Lanka cricket history.
The unstoppable Nissanka's knock included 20 fours and eight sixes from the 139 balls he faced in his first ODI since the World Cup.
Avishka Fernando
played a solid innings but was dismissed for 88 when he was caught by
Ibrahim Zadran
at backward point in the 27th over. After Fernando's departure, skipper
Kusal Mendis
came to the crease but failed to make a significant impact, falling for 16.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
, however, played an aggressive innings, smashing 44 off 36 deliveries in a partnership worth 120 runs with Nissanka, who eventually went on to score an unbeaten double century.
The pick of the Afghan bowlers was
Fareed Ahmad
, who claimed the crucial wickets of Samarawickrama and Fernando, finishing with figures of 2-79.
Despite the bowlers' efforts, Nissanka's historic innings and the contributions from other batsmen propelled Sri Lanka to an imposing total of 381-3 in their series opener.
(With AFP inputs)
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