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Pathum Nissanka

Silver medal icon (S initial)
Silver medal icon (S initial) Image: Wikimedia Commons. en:User:Andrwsc and others / Public domain

Overview

Pathum Nissanka Silva (Sinhala: පැතුම් නිස්සංක සිල්වා; born 18 May 1998) is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who plays all three international formats of the game. A right-handed top-order batsman, he serves as a permanent opening batsman for the Sri Lanka national cricket team. In February 2024, he became the first Sri Lankan batter to score a double century in One Day International (ODI) cricket.

Key facts

Full name Pathum Nissanka Silva
Born 18 May 1998
Nationality Sri Lankan
Role Opening batsman
National side Sri Lanka
International debut March 2021
Formats Test, ODI, T20I
Notable record First Sri Lankan to score an ODI double century (9 February 2024)

Background

Nissanka is a professional cricketer from Sri Lanka who has established himself as a top-order specialist across formats. He bats right-handed and is regarded as a permanent fixture at the top of the Sri Lankan batting order in Test, ODI and Twenty20 International cricket.

Career

International debut

Nissanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in March 2021. Following his entry into the senior side, he progressed to play in all three formats of the international game.

ODI double century

On 9 February 2024, Nissanka scored a double hundred in an ODI, becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer ever to achieve the milestone. The innings marked a significant moment in Sri Lankan cricketing history, as no batter representing the country had previously crossed the 200-run mark in a single ODI innings.

Significance

Nissanka's record-breaking ODI double century placed him among an elite group of international batters to have reached the landmark, and his entry into that list was the first by a Sri Lankan player. His role as a stable opener across formats has made him one of the principal top-order batters in contemporary Sri Lankan cricket.

References