Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis smashed 122 off just 77 balls in the World Cup match against Pakistan in Hyderabad on October 10 (Tuesday). Mendis also looked in excellent touch against South Africa in his previous WC match as he smashed 76 runs off just 42 balls as he continued his red-hot form in India. With Mendis being in such form, franchises from the IPL will be definitely keeping an eye on the Sri Lankan batter as he continues to impress in the neighbouring country.
Mendis stroked fastest century by Sri Lankan batter in World Cup
Mendis 65-ball hundred is now the sixth fastest century in ODI World Cup history. To note, South African batter Aiden Markram recently achieved the top spot after smashing a 49-ball hundred by South Africa’s Aiden Markram against Sri Lanka in 2023 in Delhi.
Fastest century by SL batter in WC:
Kusal Mendis off 65 balls – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Hyderabad, 2023 (Final score: 122)
Kumar Sangakkara off 70 balls – Sri Lanka vs England – Wellington, 2015 (Final Score: 117*)
Kumar Sangakkara off 73 balls – Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – Melbourne, 2015 (Final Score: 105*)
Apart from Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samawickrama also completed their fifties with the bat as the Pakistani bowling unit looked deflated. Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers for the Men in Green as he grabbed wickets of Mendis, Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka to give the Pakistani camp some respite. Apart from Ali, Shadab Khan managed to scalp the wicket of the Sri Lankan opening batter Pathum Nissanka. However, Shadab was a bit expensive in his spell.
Editors pick
