Top 5 Sri Lanka batsmen with most centuries in test cricket

Former Sri Lanka captain Aravinda de Silva has the third-most number of test centuries for his country.

Sri Lanka is one of the premier cricket teams in the world. They made their test debut in 1982, and in 319 tests so far, they have a win percentage of 32.60, which is better than cricket powerhouses West Indies, Pakistan and India

Apart from bowlers Muthiah Muralidaran, Rangana Herath and Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka’s success in test cricket has been credited heavily to their legendary batsmen. In the past decade, two of their most memorable achievements were test series wins in England and South Africa, which came on the back of some unbelievable batting performances.

The Island nation has boasted some of the greatest batters of all time who dominated test cricket, tired out the bowlers, and frustrated the fielding captains. In this article, we will look at the top five test century-makers from Sri Lanka.

Top 5 Sri Lanka batsmen with the most centuries in test cricket:

5. Dinesh Chandimal – 15

Former captain and middle-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal is one of the most talented batters of his country. He averages 42 after 82 test matches, in which he’s scored 5656 runs with 15 centuries and 28 fifties. His highest test score of 206* came against Australia in 2022 in Galle.

4. Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews – 16

Four batters – Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Angelo Mathews – all of whom are former captains, are tied with 16 test centuries. Karunaratne and Mathews are still active and part of the test team in 2024.

Of these four, Mathews has played the most number of tests (112), has the most runs (7766), and has the best average (45.15).

3. Aravinda de Silva – 20

Former skipper Aravinda de Silva is Sri Lanka’s third-leading test century scorer, having notched up 20 tons in 93 tests that he played from 1984 to 2002. The right-handed batsman had a healthy average of 42 in his test career.

2. Mahela Jayawardene – 34

The top two batsmen on this list have distanced themselves from the rest of their compatriots and were significantly instrumental in Sri Lanka’s success in all three formats in the first decade-and-a-half of the 21st century.

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene registered 34 test centuries in his 149-test career. He is the most capped Sri Lankan test player. Jayawardene amassed 11814 runs at a good average of 49.84.

1. Kumar Sangakkara – 38

Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka’s leading test run-scorer and leading century-maker. In 134 tests, the left-hander amassed 12400 at an outstanding average of 57, with the help of 38 centuries and 52 fifties.

Sangakkara is his country’s leading ODI run-scorer as well.

(All stats updated till 16 September 2024.)

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