Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka scripted history as he scored his maiden ODI double ton in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Pallekele. The Lankans scored a mammoth 381/3 in 50 overs.
He became the first Sri Lankan batsman to score a double century in ODI cricket. He surpassed Sanath Jayasuriya’s career-best ODI score of 189 to achieve this rare feat. He got to the landmark hitting a boundary four of Afghan pacer Fareed Malik.
Nissanka finished with 210 off 139 deliveries as he hit 20 fours and 8 sixes in his innings at a strike rate of 151.07. He first added 182 runs for the first wicket with Avishka Fernando (88). Kusal Mendis the captain scored 16, Charith Asalanka an unbeaten 7 as Nissaka added another crucial stand of 120 runs with Sadeera.
Every Afghanistan bowler was expensive in this match. Fareed Malik and Mohammad Nabi were the only two bowlers to pick up wickets. Every bowler barring Nabi conceded runs at an excess of seven runs per over. Malik went for 79 runs off his seven over while Fazalhaq Farooqi went for 77 runs off his nine overs. The Lankans scored 60 runs off the last five overs.
Afghanistan now need to have a record chase if they are to win the first ODI. They need a mammoth 382 runs to win the match. This is one of the biggest ever chases in their ODI history. The absence of Rashid Khan was dearly felt by the bowling attack. He is currently out of the team as he is recovering from his lower back surgery.
Pathum Nissanka became the 11th batter overall to score a double-century in ODI cricket and the first Sri Lankan batter to achieve the feat. His knock of 210 now becomes the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan batter in ODI cricket. He ranks sixth in the list of top individual run-getters in ODI cricket.
Cricket World Reacts To Pathum Nissanka’s Maiden Double Ton
Pathum Nissanka creates history by becoming the first Sri Lankan batter to enter the 200-run club. Congratulations young man.. way to go.. #SLVAFG pic.twitter.com/YQqOQLN2cl
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) February 9, 2024
ODI Double Hundred for my favorite Pathum Nissanka! 😍
210*(139), 20 fours, 8 sixes. The first Sri Lankan ODI double centurion. Top class player! https://t.co/EoCg8E3l6a pic.twitter.com/THthG4rDzh
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) February 9, 2024
It's a record breaking day for @Patumnissanka18 ! 1st ever Sri lankan to make a double hundred in ODI cricket! The highest ever score in ODI cricket for Sri Lanka. Congratulations to Pathum Nissanka. Simply magnificent.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) February 9, 2024
https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1755939657462723023?t=TVL0qrkG120DLPX9ttxNow&s=19
Pathum Nissanka is on his way to greatness!🙌
The first ever double century and the highest score in ODIs by a Sri Lankan🇱🇰
An innings full of class and an absolute treat to watch❤️#SLvAFG— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) February 9, 2024
Fastest to score double hundreds in ODI Cricket history:
Ishan Kishan – 126 balls.
Glenn Maxwell – 128
Pathum Nissanka – 136* pic.twitter.com/N0zsqTSXYT
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 9, 2024
Pathum Nissanka’s 210* puts him fifth equal on the ODI scores list. An innings as selfless as it was clinical. After he got a fast start, just refused to play it safe.
His name’s now up with some of the best.
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 9, 2024
That was some knock by Pathum Nissanka. So many doubts about his ability to play ‘modern day’ cricket (sometimes justified), but the way he’s grown as a batter over the last couple of years, you have to give him props 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/skNIbXUHoM
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) February 9, 2024
🚨PATHUM NISSANKA BECOMES THE FIRST SRI LANKA TO SCORE A DOUBLE HUNDRED IN ODIS…!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Swqy21wyla
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2024
🚨PATHUM NISSANKA BECOMES THE FIRST SRI LANKA TO SCORE A DOUBLE HUNDRED IN ODIS…!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Swqy21wyla
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2024
PATHUM NISSANKA BREAKS THE 24 YEAR OLD RECORD OF SANATH JAYASURYA 🤯
– Nissanka holds the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in ODI history. pic.twitter.com/JnViUZ5RQw
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 9, 2024
PATHUM NISSANKA BECOMES THE FIRST SRI LANKAN TO SCORE A DOUBLE HUNDRED IN ODI HISTORY 🔥🫡 pic.twitter.com/xf28BaTrvV
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 9, 2024
Sanath Jayasuriya enjoying his 24 year old record being broken by Pathum Nissanka.#AFGvSL pic.twitter.com/hczU9Ft5dG
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) February 9, 2024
🇱🇰 History made! 🇱🇰
Pathum Nissanka rewrites the record books with a phenomenal 210*, the highest ODI score ever by a Sri Lankan batsman! This innings surpasses the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya’s 24-year-old record of 189, set in 2000.#SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/dJMghNxXTY
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 9, 2024
Fakhar Zaman and Ishan Kishan also have a career-best of 210* like Nissanka. Fakhar scored against Zimbabwe while Kishan scored against Bangladesh. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is the only batter with three double-centuries in ODI cricket. No other batter has scored more than one. God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar was the first to score a double century in ODI cricket back in 2010. In the next decade, a few more batters have followed suit.