Dazzling Nissanka lights up Pallekele with record-breaking knock

Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando put on 182-run opening stand for Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka became first Sri Lankan to hit double century in ODIs, celebrates the achievement with Charith Asalanka

Sanath Jayasuriya who watched Pathum Nissanka break his record applauds Nissanka’s double century Pramod Madushan (left) ran through Afghanistan top order with three wickets

• First Sri Lankan batsman to score double century in ODIs
• Shatters Sanath Jayasuriya’s 24-year-old record

Pathum Nissanka, the 25-year-old diminutive right-hand batsman from Galle set alight the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium with an astounding display of batting that saw him become the first Sri Lankan to score a double century in ODI cricket.

Playing in his 50th ODI Nissanka was simply unstoppable as he waded into the Afghanistan bowling to slam 20 fours and eight sixes as Sri Lanka raced to an imposing total of 381-3.

Afghanistan in reply lost their first five wickets for 55, but put a spirited fight back through their sixth wicket pair Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi who both scored centuries for them to finish on a respectable 339-6. Sri Lanka won the contest by 42 runs to go one-up in the three-match series.

The first half of the match belonged to Nissanka. With his opening partner Avishka Fernando, they made full use of a flat batting track to post 182 for the first wicket off 160 balls. Fernando fell 12 runs short of a century when Ibrahim Zadran pulled off a stunning catch at point to send him back for a run-a-ball 88 that comprised eight fours and three sixes.

Nissanka who batted through the innings forged another century partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama that provided entertaining cricket with 120 being scored off 71 balls. Samarawickrama departed for an attractive 45, scored off 36 balls (4 fours, 1 six).

What made Nissanka’s batting even more special is that he took his game to a different level. On his way to a double hundred he surpassed Sanath Jayasuriya’s innings of 189 against India at Sharjah in 2000 that had withstood the test of time for 24 years. Jayasuriya was there in the crowd to applaud Nissanka’s effort.

“I am overjoyed for Pathum and glad I was able to witness my record being broken after 24 long years,” said the Lankan cricket legend. “It’s a unique thing. Pathum has come a long way. He was positive from the first ball. He dominated the bowling and took calculated risks. This is what I want to see – fearless cricket. Play the Sri Lankan brand of aggressive cricket and the results will be there.”

It was a herculean effort from Player of the Match Nissanka who hogged the limelight as he drove, cut, pulled and slog swept with elan and was destructive all around the wicket. The Afghan bowling did not have any impact on his batting.

In their reply Afghanistan’s top order batting was rocked by Pramod Madushan who picked up three wickets in his first spell to have them reeling at 55-5. An early end to the game looked likely at this stage, but Afghanistan, known for their fighting qualities put up stern resistance through their sixth wicket pair to register their highest sixth wicket partnership in ODIs - 242 off 222 balls.

Both Omarzai and Nabi went onto make their career best scores – Nabi a magnificent 136 off 130 balls (14 fours, 3 sixes) and Omarzai a valiant 149* off 115 balls (13 fours, 6 sixes). They picked and chose the loose balls to attack and pushed the partnership to massive proportions. Nabi fell with 85 still needed, and although Omarzai carried on, it proved a bridge too far for Afghanistan on a belter of a track that produced a double hundred and two hundreds.

The second ODI will take place at the same venue on Sunday.