(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka smashed his way to a big milestone in T20I cricket, becoming the third player from his country to hit 2,000 runs. He reached the mark during Sri Lanka’s exciting Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi, firing up fans with a quick half-century.
Chasing a target of 140, Nissanka delivered a solid 50 off just 34 balls, including six fours and a six. He struck at a blistering rate of 147.06, helping his team chase down the score with ease. This performance puts him at 2,000 runs in 69 T20I matches and 68 innings, with an average of 30.76 and a strike rate of 123.60. His highest score? A gritty 90, backed by 16 fifties. What’s more, Nissanka got there faster than any other Sri Lankan batter, needing just 68 innings—beating Kusal Perera’s record of 76.
For context, the top Sri Lankans ahead of him are Kusal Perera with 2,139 runs in 83 matches (average 27.42, strike rate 133.18, one century and 15 fifties) and Kusal Mendis with 2,079 runs in 85 matches (average 25.35, strike rate 131.66, and 16 fifties).
Nissanka’s form in the Asia Cup is turning heads too. He now joins stars like India’s Virat Kohli (four fifties in nine innings) and Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (three in six) with the joint-second most fifty-plus scores in T20 Asia Cup history—his third in seven innings. This year alone, in eight T20Is, he’s racked up 280 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 147.36, including two half-centuries and a top of 55.
Now, about that thrilling match: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first. Bangladesh posted 139/5, thanks to a fighting 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Jaker Ali (41 off 34 balls with two fours) and Shamim Hossain (42 off 34 with three fours and a six). Sri Lanka’s bowlers shone, led by Wanindu Hasaranga’s 2/25, with Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara picking up one wicket each.
In the chase, an early wicket rattled Sri Lanka, but Nissanka teamed up with Kusal Mendis for a match-winning 95-run stand for the second wicket. Mendis remained not out on 46 off 32 balls (four fours and two sixes), steering the team home with six wickets and 32 balls to spare. Mendis grabbed the Player of the Match award, giving Sri Lanka a strong start to their Asia Cup campaign.
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