PAK vs SL: Kusal Mendis registers Sri Lanka's fastest century in ICC Cricket World Cup history

Kusal Mendis played a scintillating knock of 122 runs in 77 balls with 14 fours and 6 sixes.

Sri Lanka have done a magnificent job with the bat against Pakistan at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Sri Lankan top-order have put Pakistan on the backfoot as they aim for a big total in their second league game. Kusal Mendis was on fire once again, and he carried on his smashing form in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Kusal Mendis went on to smash a record-breaking hundred for his national side in the World Cup.

Kusal Mendis record-breaking century

Sri Lankan number 3 batsman Kusal Mendis broke Kumar Sangakkara’s record for fastest World Cup hundred by a Sri Lankan when he touched the 100-runs mark in just 65 balls against Pakistan. Kusal Mendis was 5 balls quicker than Kumar Sangakkara, who scored the previous fastest World Cup century for Sri Lanka in 70 balls against England in the 2015 World Cup game played at Basin Reserve in Wellington. Sangakkara bettered his own record, as just 3 days before the England game, he smashed a 73-balls hundred against Bangladesh at the MCG.

Reacting to Kusal Mendis' century, Kumar Sangakkara took X (formerly twitter) to post a message for the batsman. Kumar Sangakkara posted "@KusalMendis13 was always a special player and seems to be coming into his own. What a hundred. His recent experiences in both international and franchise cricket is showing to be a huge positive. Consistent selection and clarify of style of play also helps hugely."

The record for smashing the quickest World Cup century currently stands with South African middle-order batter Aiden Markram. Markram smashed a 49-balls hundred against Sri Lanka last week in Delhi, where South Africa went on to score 428 runs. Markram overtook former Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien by just one ball. Kevin scored a 50-ball century against England in Bangalore in the 2011 World Cup.

Kusal Mendis was dismissed on 122 runs, he provided Sri Lanka with a platform to aim for a big total in Hyderabad. Kusal Mendis smashed six towering sixes and 14 fours in his innings. Opener Pathum Nissanka (51) supported him well in the 2nd wicket partnership, as they both added 102 runs in 16 overs. Later on, Mendis went on to add one more big partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama. They both added 111 runs to the Sri Lankan score.