WC: Centurions Mendis, Sadeera guide SL to 344/9 against Pakistan
Sri Lanka racked up a mammoth 344/9 against Pakistan in match number eight of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. The Lankan innings saw two incredible centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, respectively. Pathum Nissanka smashed a half-century earlier in the innings. The Pakistan bowlers remained expensive, with seamer Hasan Ali taking four wickets.
SL score 58/1 in 10 overs
Hasan dismissed opener Kusal Perera for a four-ball duck after SL elected to bat. However, Nissanka and Mendis found momentum and negotiated the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Hasan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Nawaz. Pakistan dropped a couple of catches in the first Powerplay, which later proved costly. Nissanka and Mendis guided the Lankans to 58/1 in 10 overs.
Nissanka's maiden World Cup fifty
Nissanka held his end despite losing his opening partner Perera in the second over. The former then shared a 102-run stand with Mendis, who went on to score a scintillating century. However, leg-spinner Shadab Khan dismissed Nissanka in the 18th over. The latter smashed a 61-ball 51 (7 fours and 1 six). It was his maiden World Cup half-century and a 10th in ODIs.
Mendis slams a 65-ball ton
Mendis came to the middle after Perera departed for a four-ball duck (second over). The former added 102 runs with Nissanka to get the Lankans past 100. Although Perera lost his way, Mendis then joined forces with Sadeera. Mendis reached his third ODI century off just 65 deliveries in the 27th over. He smashed 13 fours and 4 sixes en route to his ton.
The fastest WC ton by a SL batter
Mendis now has the fastest century by a Sri Lankan player in the World Cup (65 balls). The right-handed batter surpassed SL legend Kumar Sangakkara, who smashed a 70-ball ton against England in the 2015 World Cup. Notably, Sangakkara also holds the third spot on this list. He slammed a 73-ball century against Bangladesh in the same edition.
The fastest ton against Pakistan in World Cup
According to cricket statistician Rajneesh Gupta, Mendis's 65-ball ton is now the fastest against Pakistan in the World Cup. It is also the third-fastest century against Pakistan in ODI cricket.
More feats for Mendis
Mendis's 122 is now the second-highest score by a SL wicket-keeper in the World Cup. Sangakkara, who slammed 124 against Scotland in 2015 in Hobart, occupies the top spot. Mendis has now joined the elite list of players to have scored an ODI hundred as a designated wicket-keeper for Sri Lanka. He also recorded the highest ODI score by a SL wicket-keeper against Pakistan.
Maiden ODI ton for Sadeera
Sadeera arrived in the center after SL lost their second wicket for 107 runs. While Mendis launched his counter-attack, Sadeera duly assisted him. This took the Lankans past 200 before the 30-over mark. The latter accelerated after Mendis departed, having shared a 50+ stand with Dhananjaya de Silva. Sadeera reached his maiden ODI century off 82 balls in the 46th over.
Hasan Ali takes four wickets
Senior pacer Hasan was the pick of Pakistan bowlers, who remained expensive. He took his first wicket in the form of Perera in his very first over. In his next spell, the Pakistan seamer dismissed Charith Asalanka for one. Hasan then got rid of the two centurions, Mendis and Sadeera. The Pakistan pacer took four wickets for 71 runs in 10 overs.
