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ODI World Cup 2023: Kusal Mendis scores the fastest century by any Sri Lankan

Kushal Mendis displayed his batting prowess as he demolished the Pakistani bowling to notch up his 3rd ODI century.

By Soumya | Oct 10, 2023 | 2 Min Read

Kushal Mendis displayed his batting prowess as he demolished the Pakistani bowling to notch up his 3rd ODI century. Mendis reached his ton with only 65 balls. It is also the fastest century by any Sri Lankan batsman in the World Cup. Mendis broke the record of Kumar Sangakkara in the process. In fact, this was the sixth-fastest hundred in the history of the ODI World Cups. Kusal’s knock has put the Lankans in a very dominating position against Pakistan at 321/5 after the 46th over.

Kusal’s fastest century to overcome the record of Kumar Sangakkara

Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant century to get Sri Lanka off to a flyer in their second match of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Mendis scored a blistering 122 runs off 71 balls. This includes 14 boundaries and six maximums. As a result, Sri Lanka has been able to construct a platform for themselves with 283/4 at the end of the 40th over. Now, Sri Lanka’s power-hitters like Dasun Shanaka can launch themselves into the fray and take the total past 350. Mendis also became the only Sri Lankan batter to hit a century against Pakistan in ODI World Cups. The previous best by a Sri Lankan batter was 89 by Roshan Mahanama in Hyderabad in the 1987 World Cup.

Mendis has been in scintillating form at the ongoing World Cup. Earlier, he counter-attacked the South African bowlers with a quick 42-ball 76. Although, Sri Lanka lost the match Mendis’ counter-attack had put the South African bowling in jeopardy. Mendis etched his name in the leaderboards which included some other significant names as well. Given below is the list of all those centurions-

Fastest hundreds by Sri Lanka batters in World Cup

Kusal Mendis off 65 balls – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Hyderabad, 2023 (Final score: 122)
Kumar Sangakkara off 70 balls – Sri Lanka vs England – Wellington, 2015 (Final Score: 117*)
Kumar Sangakkara off 73 balls – Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – Melbourne, 2015 (Final Score: 105*)

Fastest Hundreds in World Cup

Aiden Markram off 49 balls – South Africa vs Sri Lanka – Delhi, 2023 (Final Score: 108)
Kevin O’Brian off 50 balls – Ireland vs England – Bangalore, 2011 (Final Score: 113)
Glenn Maxwell off 51 balls – Australia vs Sri Lanka – Sydney, 2015 (Final Score: 102)
AB de Villiers off 52 balls – South Africa vs West Indies – Sydney, 2015 (Final Score: 162*)
Eoin Morgan off 57 balls – England vs Afghanistan – Manchester, 2019 (Final Score: 148*)
Kusal Mendis off 65 balls – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Hyderabad, 2023 (Final score: 122)