The world record of Sanath Jayasuriya

1996 was the best year for Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya traveled with the Sri Lankan group in Singapore merely two weeks after becoming a player in the World Cup series. In Singapore's first eternal triangular series, the new champions joined the Asian powers India and Pakistan to perform the Singer cup.

All three teams once played together in the group stage. The first match in Sri Lanka beat Pakistan; the second match was beaten by India and the third match by Pakistan. Lastly, Sri Lanka and Pakistan qualified for the final with a better run-rate.

Although Sanath Jayasuriya failed rarely against India, he broke the world record of the quickest ODI century with only 48 balls in the early match against Pakistan by hitting his 100 offs. It had been the quickest One day century which exceeded the 62-ball International cricket century record of Mohammad Azharuddin.

Arjuna Ranatunga won the toss on 7 April 1996, the day on which the final was taken. Many Pakistani batsmen have had a good start, but have not been able to deliver a great result. Ijaz Ahmed, number 6 batter, was the highest batter with the 51 and shepherded the lower order to ensure Pakistan reached 215.

Jayasuriya came to burn every weapon during the chase. The first was 14 runs and he did start to play his shots. Jayasuriya hit his 50th on the first ball of the 5th over. He scored just 17 balls and smashed the fastest ODI world record by 50 in just one ball. Thus Jayasuriya is both the fastest 50 and 100 world record holders for ODIs simultaneously.

Despite the defeat, Jayasuriya’s game remained unforgettable

In the second sixth ball, Sri Lanka lost its first wicket. The Aaqib Javed Bowled Romesh Kaluwitharana with a complete team of 70 members. However, despite being in a partnership of 70, Kalu still opens his book because he got out for an 11-ball duck.

Jayasuriya ended up playing his shots to 76. When another fast century looked from around the corner, Jayasuriya took some shots at either the cover of the third ball, the Waqar Younis, captured by Saeed Anwar. He finished with a total of 76 out of 28 consisting of 8 and 5 six.

The Pakistanis took charge of the game after the departure of Jayasuriya. Both Aravinda and Arjuna lost and in the 33rd position were still all out for just 172 rounds despite the 33rd round from Hashan Tillakaratne Sri Lanka. Of course, the overheads were not a problem, but none of the batsmen was able to bat longer. Despite the defeat, Jayasuriya’s game remained unforgettable, and only AB de Villiers has touched 50 less ODI deliveries.

On August 6, 1997, the men's cricket team in Sri Lanka wrote history with the largest number of entries in the longest format history of the game.

In the official Twitter handle of the International Cricket Council (ICC); the Sri Lanka team posts a total of 952. Over the last twenty years, which remains one of the largest team scores in test history.

READ MORE Cricket articles here!