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Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Charith Asalanka created history at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on November 6. Amidst controversy due to Angelo Mathews getting dismissed timed-out, Asalanka became the first no.5 batter to score a century against Bangladesh in ODI World Cups. Asalanka broke former West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan's record of an unbeaten 91 in the 2007 edition of the World Cup.
Asalanka is only the third Sri Lankan batter to score a century at no.5 or below in World Cups. Mahela Jayawardene did it first against Afghanistan with a 100-run knock against Bangladesh in the 2015 World Cup. In the previous edition, Mathews scored 113 against India at Headingley, Leeds.
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Arun Jaitley Stadium entered the record books of World Cups as well. So far, nine centuries have been scored at the venue in World Cups, the most at a single venue. The previous record belonged to Old Trafford, Manchester, and Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai with eight centuries World Cups.
Earlier in the tournament, South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen came close to breaking Sarwan's record. Klaasen scored 90 runs from just 49 deliveries against Shakib Al Hasan-led side at Wankhede Stadium.
Asalanka walked in to bat in the 13th over of the innings after Pathum Nissanka got bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Asalanka shared a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama. After Mathews' dismissal controversy, he reached his half-century from 56 balls.
He shared a 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva. Asalanka batted with the tail and completed his century from 101 balls in the 48th over of the innings. He was dismissed in the penultimate over of the innings after hitting Sakib for a maximum. His 105-ball 108 featured six fours and five sixes. His patient knock helped Sri Lanka post 279 on the board.
“It’s always good feeling when you are getting a hundred and I’m feeling happy now. (On Mathews' timed out dismissal) My point of view it’s not good for the spirit of the game. After that, Dhananjaya came and we had a good partnership. I love to have a partnership with Dhananjaya because he is a right-hander and I’m a left-hander and he always scores quickly. Credit should go to the pitches, because we can hit the ball through the line. When I was batting, I was looking for 300 but unfortunately, I got out in the 49th over. But, I think we have got enough,” Asalanka told the broadcasters during the innings break.
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