Sri Lanka delivered a formidable performance in their Super Fours clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 26th. Tasked with chasing a challenging target of 203 runs, the islanders showcased immense determination to keep the match intensely competitive.
Pathum Nissanka broke two Virat Kohli records with his century against India (Images via Getty Images)
Earlier in the game, India had posted a strong total of 202/5. Abhishek Sharma was the star with the bat, smashing 61 runs off just 31 deliveries, including two sixes and eight boundaries. Tilak Varma provided a crucial anchor to the innings, remaining unbeaten on 49 from 34 balls. Other valuable contributions came from Sanju Samson (39) and Axar Patel (21*). For Sri Lanka, a collective bowling effort saw five different bowlers each claiming one wicket, with Charith Asalanka and Dushmantha Chameera being notable performers.
In response, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback with the swift dismissal of Kusal Mendis by Hardik Pandya in the very first over. However, opener Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera quickly stabilized the innings, forging an impressive 127-run partnership for the second wicket. Although Perera departed after scoring a quickfire 58 off 32 balls, dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy, Nissanka continued his valiant effort, keeping Sri Lanka firmly in the chase.
Most 50-plus scores in T20 Asia Cup
- Pathum Nissanka – 5 (12 innings)*
- Virat Kohli – 4 (9 innings)
- Mohammad Rizwan – 3 (6 innings)
- Kusal Mendis – 3 (12 innings)
- Abhishek Sharma – 3 (6 innings)
Pathum Nissanka’s phenomenal innings of 107 runs from just 58 deliveries marked his fifth half-century in the T20 Asia Cup format. This outstanding achievement allowed him to surpass Virat Kohli’s previous record of four fifties, making him the player with the most 50-plus scores in the tournament’s history. While Kohli achieved his four fifties in a mere nine innings, Nissanka now stands alone with five such scores from 12 innings.
Nissanka further etched his name in the record books by establishing the largest partnership for any wicket alongside Kusal Perera, accumulating 127 runs. This partnership impressively eclipsed the 119-run stand previously held by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul against Afghanistan in 2022.
Adding to his list of accolades, Nissanka’s century also represents the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman against India in T20 Internationals. He reached the coveted 100-run mark against India in a blistering 52 balls, marking his maiden T20I century.
This stellar performance underscores Nissanka’s consistent brilliance and pivotal role in the T20 format, especially on major platforms like the Asia Cup, where his exceptional skills consistently shine through.