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Finally, the Sri Lanka national cricket team shows what they are capable of if they hit their best, despite playing under challenging English conditions. The ongoing bilateral series against the England national cricket team was mostly underwhelming until they walked into Headingley Carnegie to play the second ODI of the series.
In the must-win match, the Sri Lanka ODI team captain Kusal Mendis played a brilliant knock, breaking former captain and Lankan cricket great Sanath Jayasuriya in a rare list of records at this very ground.
A record-breaking century for Kusal Mendis
Batting first in today's match against England, the touring team ensured a massive total of 321 runs in 50 overs, only against 6 wickets. Thanks to the stellar knock by the captain, Kusal Mendis. Mendis single-handedly scored 121 runs, playing 100 balls. His 100-ball knock was decorated with fourteen 4s and three 6s.
While batting comfortably against the Three Lions, Kusal Mendis surpassed the former Sri Lanka cricket team's opener. During a match against England in 2002 at Leeds, Sanath Jayasuriya produced a 112-run knock off 87 balls. Before today's match on this ground, Jayasuriya's 112 was the highest innings played by a Sri Lanka national cricket team captain there. After today's first innings, the record now belongs to Kusal Mendis.
Highest Individual Score by a Sri Lankan Captain In ODIs At Leeds
Kusal Mendis- 121 off 100 balls vs England, 2026
Sanath Jayasuriya- 112 off 87 balls vs England, 2002
A record-making innings for Sri Lanka against England
With this massive total, Sri Lanka, as a team, sets another record. The total of 321 is currently their third-highest score secured against the England cricket team in the One Day Internationals. So far, the 366-run total recorded in Colombo in 2028 remains the highest total scored by the island nation against England in this format of the game. In 2006, in a successful run chase, they got 324 runs against only 2 wickets.
Highest ODI totals for Sri Lanka vs England
366/6 - Colombo (RPS), 2018
324/2 - Headingley, 2006 - in a successful chase
321/6 - Headingley, 2026
319/8 - The Oval, 2006
318/7 - Old Trafford, 2006
317/6 - Colombo (RPS), 2014
Kusal Mendis goes close to claim Sanath Jayasuriya's another record
In another interesting set of records, Kusal Mendis went very close to touching Sanath Jayasuriya's another record. In fact, Mendis could overtake two records at once. Mendis needed only 82 runs to complete the century. The list of the fastest ODI 100s for Sri Lanka against England is topped by Sanath Jayasuriya, who completed his century in Headingley in 2006. In another match, in 2002, the former batter required 78 balls to touch the 100-run mark. Interestingly, four out of five record-making centuries for Sri Lanka against England were at this very ground.
Fastest ODI 100s for Sri Lanka vs England
72 - Sanath Jayasuriya, Headingley, 2006
78 - Sanath Jayasuriya, Headingley, 2002
81 - Mahela Jayawardene, Old Trafford, 2006
82 - Upul Tharanga, Headingley, 2006
82 - Kusal Mendis, Headingley, 2026
