Dinesh Chandimal registers unique feat with his ton in Delhi Test

Team Sri Lanka desperately needed their senior players to rise to the occasion. The onus was specifically on Angelo Mathews and Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal. The team has been undergoing a transition period and have largely struggled against the various oppositions in the recent times. They were tourwashed by India a couple of months ago and were currently facing the heat in the lead up to the Delhi Test as well.

However, some respite finally arrived their way as their senior batsmen finally stood up and took the responsibility. Whether their heroics would help the visitors save the game or not, remains to be seen. For the moment, they do deserve the applause. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal added a marathon stand of 181 runs in the first innings.

Both batsmen notched up their respective hundreds en route the big partnership. While Mathews perished soon after he reached the landmark, Chandimal continues to be the lone warrior. He finished day 3 with an unbeaten 147 to his name. Interestingly, the herculean effort with the bat by the Sri Lankan captain has helped him achieve a unique feat.

Dinesh Chandimal has now become the first batsman in international cricket to play three innings with more than 300 balls faced in the calendar year of 2017. There have been several centurions this year, and in fact, Virat Kohli has hit three double tons this year. But Chandimal is the only one to have faced over 300 delieveries on three occasions this year.

The first instance was in the home series against Bangladesh. He had scored 138 off 300 deliveries in the Colombo Test. More recently, in the winning cause against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Chandimal hit an unbeaten 155 off 372 deliveries. And in the Delhi Test, he finished his day 3 with an unbeaten 147 off 341 deliveries.

Numbers at a glance

138 (300) v Bangladesh, Colombo (PSS)
155* (372) v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi
147* (341*) v India, Delhi (By the end of Day 3)