Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka produced one of the most memorable knocks in Asia Cup T20 history, smashing a brilliant 107 off just 58 balls against India and rewriting the record books in the process. The innings, played under immense pressure in a high-scoring Super Four clash, saw Nissanka break two significant records previously held by Indian great Virat Kohli, firmly placing his name among the elite performers in the tournament’s history.
Nissanka’s century was a masterclass in pacing an innings. After Sri Lanka lost an early wicket chasing a daunting 203, the right-hander consolidated before accelerating with crisp shot-making. He reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries and brought up his hundred off 52 balls, peppering the boundaries with effortless drives, flicks, and lofted sixes. His innings not only kept Sri Lanka in the hunt until the final over but also earned him widespread praise from former players and fans alike.
The first major milestone broken was Kohli’s record for the most 50-plus scores in T20 Asia Cup history. Kohli previously held the mark with four such innings, but Nissanka’s fifth 50-plus score now makes him the leading batter in this category. This statistic reflects Nissanka’s remarkable consistency, as he has now crossed fifty in five of his last seven Asia Cup innings — a feat unmatched by any other player in the tournament.
Nissanka also overtook Kohli’s tally of total runs in T20 Asia Cup matches. Kohli had been the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 429 runs from 10 innings, but Nissanka’s latest knock pushed him to 434 runs from just 12 innings, taking the top spot in the all-time run charts. For Sri Lanka, this is a significant achievement, as Nissanka becomes the first player from the island nation to lead the run tally in a T20 Asia Cup.
The innings also marked a historic first for Sri Lanka — Nissanka became the nation’s first-ever centurion in a T20 Asia Cup match. His 127-run stand with Kusal Perera for the second wicket set up a tense finish and also broke the record for the highest partnership in the tournament’s history, previously held by Kohli and KL Rahul.
Although Sri Lanka eventually fell short in a dramatic Super Over finish, Nissanka’s performance was hailed as one of the finest knocks in recent memory. His ability to handle pressure, rotate strike, and find boundaries at will stood out in a high-stakes game against a strong Indian bowling attack.
For Sri Lanka, this innings is more than just a statistical milestone — it represents the rise of a reliable match-winner at the top of the order. For Nissanka personally, surpassing Kohli’s records has elevated his status and could serve as a springboard for greater achievements on the global stage.
With Sri Lanka still in contention for a place in the Asia Cup final, all eyes will remain on Nissanka as he looks to build on this remarkable feat and deliver more game-changing performances.
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