5 records created by Sri Lanka across formats in 2021

Sri Lanka started the year with a 2-0 loss in the Test series in South Africa as they headed home for England’s visit later in the month. The Lankan Lions lost that series too by the same scoreline as Joe Root scored runs for fun in both Tests. The sub-continental team then toured West Indies for a full-fldeged series in March month where they lost the limited-overs series and drew the Tests 0-0. The T20I series will be truly remembered for Kieron Pollard as he smashed Akila Dhananjaya for six sixes in an over.

Neighbours Bangladesh paid a short visit to Sri Lanka for two Tests which the hosts won 1-0. In the immediate reverse series, the Island nation lost the ODI series 2-1 in Bangladesh. It was time for Kusal Perara to lead the team for a limited-overs assignment in the UK in June end where his team suffered 5-0 loss across formats with one game abandoned due to rain. Team India with a young squad were the visitors for Sri Lanka next for ODI and T20I series as the Men in Blue clinched 50-over series 2-1 but T20Is went in favor of the hosts 2-1.

The Proteas toured the Island nation next as Sri Lanka won the ODIs 2-1 and got whitewashed 3-0 in the T20Is which were followed next. Then came the T20 World Cup 2021. After clearing the group stage, Sri Lanka entered the Super 12 but with just two wins out of five games they got knocked out of the tournament. Dimuth Karunaratne then led the side to a comfortable 2-0 Test series victory against the Caribbean team at home.

Meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of the records created by Sri Lanka across formats in 2021:

1.Dushmantha Chameera has the most ODI wickets this year

Sri Lanka’s pacer Dushmantha Chameera has taken 20 wickets in the 50-overs format in 2021, which the highest by any bowler. The impressive quick has an economy rate of 5.51 with best figures of 5/16. His performances have improved such much that Chameera even earned an IPL contract for Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. Ireland’s Simi Singh with 19 wickets falls behind Chameera in the list.

2.Wanindu Hasaranga became second fastest Sri Lankan bowler to 50 T20I wickets

During the T20 World Cup, the Lankan Lions leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga became the second fastest bowler from the Island nation to reach 50 wickets in T20Is. Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis holds the record for achieving the feat in 28 matches. Mendis is also the fastest to 50 scalps overall. Hasaranga reached the landmark in 32 games. Third Sri Lankan behind Hasaranga is Lasith Malinga who got to the record in 44 T20Is.

3.Wanindu Hasaranga became the first Sri Lanka bowler to take hat-trick in T20 World Cups

During Sri Lanka’s defeat against South Africa in the T20 World Cup, Hasaranga took a hat-trick and became the first Lankan bowler to do so in any T20 World Cup edition. He took the scalps of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius in the game. Hasaranga became the fourth Lankan bowler to achieve the milestone in T20Is. Yorker specialist Lasith Malinga had done it twice in his career while all-rounder Thisara Perara and spinner Akila Dananjaya claimed it once.

4.Wanindu Hasaranga is equaled with Tabraiz Shamsi for most T20I wickets in a calendar year

With 36 wickets in T20Is this year, Wanindu Hasaranga shares the record with South Africa’s Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi for taking most wickets in T20Is from a full-member nation in a calendar year. Australia’s Andrew Tye held the record previously with 31 wickets, coming to his name in the year 2018. Both Hasaranga and Shamsi have gone neck-to-neck in 2021 as nothing separates the two spinners. In terms of economy (5.44), average (11.63) and best bowling figures (4/9), Hasaranga edges Shamsi’s numbers of 5.72, 13.36 and 4/25.

5.Dimuth Karunaratne has equaled Atapattu and Jayasuriya for most Tests tons by an opener in a calendar year

The Lankan Lions Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne had a dream run in the longest format of the game this year as he smashed 902 runs, only third behind Joe Root and Rohit Sharma for most runs in 2021. He recorded four centuries and equaled former batters Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya for scoring most Test tons opening the batting for Sri Lanka in a calendar year. Atapattu and Jayasuriya both cracked four hundreds in the same year 2004. Karunaratne has seven 50 plus scores to his name in 2021 with an impressive 69.38. He is second for scoring most tons (4) this year with England’s Joe Root ahead of him with six hundreds.