Sri Lanka’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, Kusal Mendis, found himself in the spotlight on Tuesday, not just for his scintillating cricketing skills, but also for the physical toll his remarkable performance took on him.
In a thrilling ODI World Cup match against Pakistan in Hyderabad, Mendis played an innings for the ages, scoring a stunning 122 runs. However, the euphoria of his batting brilliance was soon overshadowed by the onset of cramps, necessitating his immediate hospitalization.
The Sri Lanka Cricket board issued a statement confirming Mendis’s hospitalization, attributing it to the cramps that struck him as he returned from the field after his explosive knock. It was a testament to the intensity of his performance, which left fans and fellow players in awe.
What made Mendis’s innings all the more special was the sheer ferocity with which he approached his batting. He blazed his way to 122 runs off just 77 balls, a performance that etched his name into the annals of Sri Lankan cricket history.
Notably, it marked the fastest century ever scored by a Sri Lankan player in World Cup history. Six sixes and a remarkable 14 boundaries punctuated his innings, leaving the opposition and spectators alike spellbound.
Mendis didn’t carry the weight of the match on his shoulders alone. He found a capable partner in Sadeera Samarawickrama, who carved his name into the record books as well.
Samarawickrama, in a display of composure and talent, scored his maiden ODI century, accumulating 108 runs from just 89 balls. The duo’s partnership was instrumental in Sri Lanka posting a formidable total of 344 for nine in their allotted 50 overs.