ODI World Cup 2023: Kusal Mendis breaks the Sri Lankan record for the fastest hundred in World Cups

In 8th match of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan cricket team's wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant century against Pakistan. This is the third century of his ODI career and first century in the World Cup.

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Mendis completed his century in just 65 balls. It is also the fastest century scored by a Sri Lankan in a ICC Cricket World Cup event. During this, he also made a century partnership with Pathum Nissanka (51).

When Sri Lanka lost its first wicket on the score of just 5 runs, Mendis came to the crease. He took full advantage of Pakistan's fast bowlers and hit many spectacular shots. Batting aggressively, he completed his half-century in 40 balls and hit a hat-trick of fours to Shaheen Afridi, who came to bowl the 25th over. Mendis along with Nissanka made a partnership of 102 runs for the second wicket. After that, he converted his innings into a century by hitting a six off Hasan Ali.

Kusal Mendis came on the field when Kusal Perera was out on the ball of Hasan Ali in the second over without opening the account. Mendis opened his account by hitting a four to Shaheen Afridi in the third over and then hit a four and a six to Shaheen in the next over. From here itself it was clear what Mendis wanted to do. He became even more scary when Imam dropped his catch on Shaheen's ball in the 7th over.

Apart from this, Mendis broke the old record of former legend Kumar Sangakkara, who had scored a century in 70 balls against England (2015 World Cup). Sangakkara (73 balls) has also scored the third fastest century for Sri Lanka in this global competition.

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Kushal Mendis made his ODI debut in 2016 against the Ireland cricket team. So far, he has scored more than 3,300 runs in 111 innings of 114 ODI matches at an average of around 33. Moreover, he has scored 3 centuries and 26 half-centuries with the highest score of 119 runs in his ODI career.