Sanath Jayasuriya, a batsman from Sri Lanka who bats with his left hand, is considered a national hero and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. He changed the rules for batting at the top of the order and revolutionized the concept of opening the batting in shorter versions of the game with his relentless power hitting and immaculate stroke-making. The all-rounder with the left-arm spin bowling arm has the capability to demolish even the most fearsome bowling assaults and put the other team in a disadvantageous situation right from the start. On the occasion of his 47th birthday, Article takes a trip down memory lane and compiles some of his favorite performances by the shrewd artist who wrote history with his willow and was deft in everything that he attempted. According to cricket world cup news today, these performances because the artist was able to write history with his willow and was deft in everything that he attempted.
- 253 against Pakistan, SL tour of Pakistan, 2004:
Jayasuriya is one of the very few batters who have excelled in all three forms and can score quickly in any weather. His exceptional hand-eye coordination allowed him to score big runs and lead his team to a commanding victory. Jayasuriya scored 253 runs in the second innings of the first Test in Faisalabad, despite the wicket being tough to bat on. After his innings, Sri Lanka had 438 runs on the board and went on to win the Test by 201 runs. The Pakistani bowlers struggled to contain him as he hammered 33 fours and four sixes.
- 340 against India, 1st Test, India in Sri Lanka, 1997:
With a retaliatory Test victory in Colombo, Sri Lanka proved its mettle against India. Sri Lanka came out swinging after India’s big first innings total of 537, and they ended up scoring the greatest Test score ever, with Jayasuriya doing most of the damage. It ended in a tie, with Sri Lanka scoring 952 runs. In record-setting Test innings, Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama put together 576 runs, with Jayasuriya contributing 340 runs.
- 63 against Australia, 2007 World Cup Final (ODI):
Despite Sri Lanka’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final, this knock by Jayasuriya will live on in cricket lore. He faced a strong Australian batting lineup but batted with unwavering conviction, scoring 63 off 67 deliveries as his team chased a target of 269 in 36 overs. (The D&L Approach)
- 134 versus Pakistan, Singer Cup, 1996 (ODI):
In this inning, Jayasuriya went absolutely nuts against Pakistan in Singapore, and no one could stop him. In the first over, he came out swinging and he set the tone. On a field where the other batters got off to promising starts but ultimately fell short, Jayasuriya smashed 134 off just 65 balls. Thanks to his outstanding performance, Sri Lanka scored 350 runs and ultimately triumphed by 34 runs.
- 189 versus India, Champions Trophy Final:
In a high-stakes final versus India, Jayasuriya scored his highest ODI score. His massive knock of 189 from 161 deliveries contained 21 fours and four sixes as he soaked up the pressure and wreaked havoc in Sharjah. India was at a loss for words as Jayasuriya caused tremendous damage and they had no answer. With India all out for only 54, Sri Lanka cruised to a 245-run triumph—the largest run margin of victory at the time.
- 76 against Pakistan, Singer Cup Final, 1996 (ODI):
In this match, Jayasuriya hit the quickest ODI fifty in history, doing it in only 17 deliveries. After hitting a six over mid-wicket, he scored his fifty, breaking Simon O’Donnell’s record of 18 balls, which O’Donnell had set against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was all out for 172 while chasing 216; Jayasuriya was his team’s only batsman to reach double figures. While Jayasuriya took command and scored all the runs for Sri Lanka after they lost their first wicket at 70, Romesh Kaluwitharana could not even manage to score a single run.
- 151* against India, 4th game of Pepsi Independence Cup, 1997 (ODI):
At Wankhede, Jayasuriya’s dogged 151 not-out helped Sri Lanka eliminate India from the Independence Cup. Jayasuriya retained his composure and decimated the Indian bowling attack as they chased a goal of 226 in 50 overs. Jayasuriya’s six co-batters scored just 65 runs off 127 balls, but the graceful southpaw brought Sri Lanka to another thrilling triumph in the 41st over with a flawless performance that took only 120 balls to play.
- 213 versus England, SL in England, 1998:
It is highly remarkable for a visitor to the nation to obtain a score of two hundred while they are there. A score of one 100 under English circumstances is already considered to be pretty exceptional. Even his most ferocious adversaries were taken aback when Jayasuriya made fun of the bowling onslaught at The Oval that comprised players Darren Gough, Dominic Cork, and Angus Fraser. The spotlight shifted to Jayasuriya after England had finished their first innings by setting a target of 445 for Sri Lanka to reach in their second innings. Jayasuriya’s knock contained 33 fours and a six. When Jayasuriya was taken out of the game, England had 320 runs for three wickets and was in a terrible position. After that, Muttiah Muralitharan tore through the English batting order and finished with nine wickets, helping his side cruise to a victory on English soil by ten wickets.
- 82 against England, 1st quarter-final, 1996 World Cup:
Jayasuriya was a hero when it mattered most, rescuing his team from impending loss on many occasions during the greatest games. In Sri Lanka’s first quarterfinal encounter against England, which took place in Faisalabad, Jayasuriya hit 82 runs without being dismissed as the team attempted to win in 50 overs. His score of 82 off of just 44 balls demonstrated how successfully he dealt with the great pressure. On the most important occasion, he struck 13 fours and three sixes, so securing his status as one of the greatest players in cricket history. His fifty came in 30 balls, which was a World Cup record at the time it was set. Sri Lanka won the game by five wickets.
