Top five highest individual scorers for Sri Lanka in ODI Cricket

One Day Cricket has evolved since the advent of T20 cricket. Once upon a time a batter going past 150 in the fifty-over format was marvelled at. Saeed Anwar scored 194 vs India way back in 1997 to break the norm. 

Sachin Tendulkar then became the first-ever batter to score a double century in ODI cricket. Current Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has scored double centuries thrice. His best of 264 came against Sri Lanka in 2014. 

Pathum Nissanka on Friday became the first ever Sri Lankan to enter this exclusive list. in this article, we cast a look at the top five highest individual scores for Sri Lanka in ODI Cricket. 

5- Tillakaratne Dilshan – 161 vs Bangladesh –Melbourne – 2015

Considered one of the best players in the last decade, Tillakaratne Dilshan was a treat to watch. The right-handed batter is also well known for the Dil-Scoop shot which has created a storm in cricket. Dilshan scored 161 not out versus Bangladesh during the 2015 ODI World Cup. 

Dilshan with this innings posted one of the highest individual scores for Sri Lanka. The knock helped his side post a massive 332 on the board with Kumar Sangakkara also scoring a ton. Sri Lanka won the match by 92 as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 240 runs. 

4- Kumar Sangakkara – 169 vs South Africa – Colombo -2013

Former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara was elegantly personified with a bat in hand. In 2013, the left-handed batter blazed South Africa for 169 runs during the 1st ODI. What made this knock more special was no other batter even managed to cross 45 runs. 

Thanks to the knock from Sangakkara, Sri Lanka won the match by a massive 180-run margin. The all-time classic knock by Kumar Sangakkara sits at number four as far as the highest individual score for Sri Lanka. 

3- Upul Tharanga – 174* vs India – Jamaica -2013

Just 18 days before Kumar Sangakkara scored his whirlwind 169, yet another left-handed batter stole the show. Former opener Upul Tharanga took the Indian attack to the cleaners to score 174 not out. 

Mahela Jayawardene who was opening the batting also scored a century as Sri Lanka posted 348 runs. India lost by 161 runs with Ravindra Jadeja scoring 49 not out while Rangana Herath took 3 wickets. 

2- Sanath Jayasuriya – 189 vs India – Sharjah – 2000 

Sri Lankan cricket was a force to be reckoned with in the late 90’s till the early 2010’s. Those two decades saw the island nation produce some amazing players. Sanath Jayasuriya is perhaps one of the greatest players the game has seen. The former Lankan great with 189 runs sits at the number two spot for the highest individual scores for Sri Lanka. 

Batting first Sri Lanka was 116/4 at one stage before Jayasuriya took over. The then Sri Lankan skipper hit 189 off 161 balls with 21 fours and four sixes as his team posted 299 on the board. India was bowled out for 54 as Chaminda Vaas took 5/14 from his 9.3 overs and lost the game by a massive 245 runs. 

1- Pathum Nissanka – 210* vs Afghanistan – Pallekele- 2024

Young opening batter Pathum Nissanka made history when he became the first batter from Sri Lanka to score a double ton. The 25-year-old also became the batter to post the highest individual score for Sri Lanka. Pathum Nissanka scored 210 runs not out from 139 balls with 20 fours and 8 sixes.

The youngster stayed not out to carry the bat through the innings. Sri Lanka posted 381 runs on the board for the loss of 3 wickets. Fellow opener Avishka Fernando scored 88 while Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 45. It was the innings of a lifetime from a special batting sensation from Sri Lanka.