#CricketInNumbers: Statistics, records of Sri Lanka in the World Cup
The World Cup 2019 is set to start from May 30, in England and Wales. Before the tournament, Sri Lanka will be looking to get their act right in the five ODIs against South Africa next month. They also have two ODI matches against Scotland in May. Sri Lanka are facing several issues, right now. We look at their statistics in the World Cup.
How have Sri Lanka fared in ICC World Cup events?
Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996, without losing a single match. They were the runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 editions. The islanders have made an exit from the group stage on six occasions (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1999). They reached the semi-finals in the 2003 edition. In 2015, Sri Lanka crashed out in the quarter-final.
Highest and lowest World Cup scores of Sri Lanka
The highest ever innings score of Sri Lanka in the World Cup came in 1996, when they amassed 398/5 against Kenya at Kandy. Notably, their lowest total came against the West Indies in Manchester during the 1975 edition (86).
Dilshan and Vaas hold individual records
Tillakaratne Dilshan (161* versus Bangladesh, 2015) has the highest individual score by a Lankan batsman. He hit 22 fours in this splendid knock. Interestingly, Dilshan also has the 12th highest individual score in the World Cup. Chaminda Vaas (6/25 against Bangladesh, 2003) has delivered the best bowling figures in an innings for Lanka. Lasith Malinga (6/38 versus Kenya, 2011) produced the second best performance.
Sangakkara and Muralitharan had enormous impact
Legend Kumar Sangakkara is the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the World Cup (1,532). He smashed five hundreds and seven fifties. Sanga is also the third highest run-getter in the World Cup and has the joint-second highest centuries. Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most number of wickets in the World Cup for Sri Lanka (68). He is second in all-time list.
Some other records held by Lankan cricketers
Besides Sangakkara, four other Lankan batsmen have scored 1,000-plus runs in the World Cup. They are Sanath Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda de Silva. Sangakkara leads the proceedings in the World Cup for most dismissals by a keeper (54). Jayasuriya took 16 catches for Lanka in the World Cup. Upul Tharanga and Dilshan forged the highest partnership for Lankans in the event (282).
Key issues facing SL and our prediction
Since the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, the Lankans have won just one ODI series out of nine. This is a dismal record which suggests that Sri Lanka have plenty of issues going into the 2019 edition. The Lankans are in a transition phase, without genuine match-winners and there is plenty of work left. As per our prediction, they won't reach the semis.
