Building big scores is not easy. A batter has to consider many factors and keep far-sighted approach in mind to build such innings. On his day, a batter can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition by guiding his team to a mammoth total that is just too tough to chase. Sri Lanka has produced many legends in the past, who have brought fame to the nation by performing well. In this article, we will take a look on the highest individual scores for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket.
1. Sanath Jayasuriya Vs. India
Spot number one on this list, belongs to Sanath Jayasuriya’s knock of 189 runs from 161 balls against India in the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy in 2000. His inning comprised of 21 fours and four sixes. After making 299 runs in the first inning, Sri Lanka put up brilliant bowling on display and bowled out India for only 54 runs.
2. Upul Tharanga Vs. India
Next up, we have Upul Tharanga, who scored 174 runs off 159 balls while remaining not out in the end. Upul hit nineteen fours and three sixes to guide his team to a total of 348 runs. Sri Lanka won this West Indies Tri-Nation Series match in 2013 against India by 161 runs.
3. Kumar Sangakkara Vs. South Africa
Moving ahead, we have Kumar Sangakkara with a 169-run knock against South Africa. During the bilateral series of 2013 between the two nations, Sangakkara hit eighteen boundaries and six sixes in his 137-ball inning. The Sri Lankan batters put up 320 runs on the board. Later, South Africa was bowled out for only 140 runs.
4. Tillakaratne Dilshan Vs. Bangladesh
The fourth position belongs to Tillakaratne Dilshan for playing an unbeaten knock of 161 runs against Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup of 2015. While playing with a strike rate of 110.27, Dilshan hit 22 fours in his inning. Sri Lanka won the match by 92 runs as they successfully defended their total of 332 runs.
5. Tillakaratne Dilshan Vs. India
On number five, we have Tillakaratne Dilshan’s unbeaten knock of 160 runs from 165 balls. During the Commonwealth Bank Series of 2012. Dilshan pushed Sri Lanka to a total of 320 runs with the help of his eleven fours and three sixes. However, this score was not enough as India chased it down with 80 balls remaining.
6. Tillakaratne Dilshan Vs. India
Tillakaratne Dilshan once again makes it to the list, this time for his 160-run inning against India during the bilateral series of 2009. His 124-ball inning was studded with 20 fours and three sixes. Thanks to his hitting, Sri Lanka came near India’s total of 414 runs. However, they had to face a three-run defeat in the end.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya Vs. Netherlands
Making his way to the seventh place on this list, we have Sanath Jayasuriya with his knock of 157 runs from 104 balls. While playing with an excellent strike rate of 150.96, Sanath hit 24 fours and a single six in his inning. The bilateral series match against Netherlands in 2006 ended in Sri Lanka’s favor as they won by 195 runs.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya Vs. England
Another knock from Sanath Jayasuriya finds a place on this list. In this fast-paced inning, Jayasuriya scored 152 runs off just 99 balls with the help of 20 fours and four sixes to record a strike rate of 153.53. Sri Lanka successfully chased down England’s total of 321 runs with 75 balls to spare.
9. Sanath Jayasuriya Vs. India
Featuring on this list for the fourth time, we have Sanath Jayasuriya, who played an unbeaten knock of 151 runs against India in the Pepsi Independence Cup of 1997. He hit seventeen fours and four sixes in this inning to successfully chase down India’s total of 225 runs in the 41st over.
10. PA de Silva Vs. Sri Lanka
The ultimate spot on this elite list, belongs to PA de Silva for scoring 145 runs off 115 balls in the Wills World Cup of 1996. While playing against Kenya, Silva hit fourteen fours and five sixes to help his team post a mammoth total of 398 runs. In reply, Kenya could score only 254 runs, thus, losing the match by a margin of 144 runs.
