The explosive right-handed batter Kusal Mendis continued his brilliant form with a sensational century against Pakistan played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 10th October 2023.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and decided to bat first. It was not an ideal start as Kusal Perera was dismissed cheaply with a simple catch to Mohammed Rizwan. He was given a reprieve as Imam UL Haq dropped the sitter. Kusal put the pressure on the Pakistani bowling with some lovely shots and made life tough for them.
He was severe on the pacers and made the batting look easy. At the end of the first 10 overs, Sri Lanka scored 58 for 1. After field restrictions, Mendis continued to dominate Pakistani bowling taking on them and keeping pressure with boundaries at regular intervals. Mendis and Pathum Nissanka kept the momentum going for Sri Lanka before Nissanka was dismissed providing an easy catch to Abdullah Shafique.
Mendis upped the ante with attacking shots completing his fifty off 40 deliveries. After completing his milestone, Mendis looked in brilliant touch putting the bad deliveries away for boundaries and sixes making life tough for Pakistani captain Babar Azam. It was a sublime batting effort as Mendis completed his century off 65 deliveries. After reaching his century, he dominated the Pakistani bowling and continued to hit big shots.
He was eventually caught by Imam UL Haq after smashing 2 successive sixes. It was a superb knock by Mendis scoring 122 off 76 deliveries with 14 fours and 6 sixes. His knock comprised off attacking shots and kept the pressure on the Pakistani bowling. He broke the record of Kumar Sangakkara with the fastest century by Lankan batter in World Cup history. Mendis completed a century off 65 deliveries. Sri Lanka posted 344 for 9 in 50 overs as Sadeera Samawickrama also made 100.
Here is how Twitterati reacted:
Kusal mendis is in the best form of his life. Brilliant batting 👏 💯 #SLvsPAK
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 10, 2023
That is some century from Kusal Mendis. Well paced and well played. And still Sri Lanka’s fastest in IC Men’s CWC. Superb knock.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 10, 2023
HUNDRED FOR KUSAL MENDIS…!!
What a knock, ridiculous hitting, dominating Pakistan bowling and smashed hundred from just 65 balls – one of the brutal knocks ever in World Cups. pic.twitter.com/x84HSrVcKm
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 10, 2023
ONE OF THE BEST HUNDREDS OF THE WORLD CUP….!!!
Kusal Mendis brings up his century in just 65 balls against Pakistan. What a thunderous knock by Mendis, he's unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/ANqLImGGgg
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 10, 2023
Oh @KusalMendis13, what are we witnessing here, absolute carnage! 💥
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) October 10, 2023
76 off 42 against South Africa and 122 off 77 against Pakistan. Kusal Mendis is something else 🔥🔥 #WorldCup2023 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/buRFV6DZIW
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 10, 2023
Historic:
Kusal Mendis scored fastest Hundred for Sri Lanka in ODI World Cup history (65 balls). pic.twitter.com/AKDroO0sM4
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 10, 2023
Well Played Kusal Mendis. #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/MPoFpdkfoC
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) October 10, 2023
IT'S BRUTAL, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE !!
Kusal Mendis is in beast form, it's a brutal century by him against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/VclZZJxxJh
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) October 10, 2023
Brilliant knock against a quality bowling line up🔥 too good of an innings to ignore #KusalMendis 🙏🏻#PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/MssmPsp2oa
— Radoo🌶️ (@Chandan_radoo) October 10, 2023
A remarkable innings from Kusal Mendis finally comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/3N6FgL5HOE
— Asad Abdullah (@asad_qureshi257) October 10, 2023
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