Pathum Nissanka smashes double century in ODI cricket, enters elite club

PALLEKELE: Friday at Pallekele witnessed the birth of the 12th double century in the history of ODI cricket. In the first match of the ODI series against Afghanistan, Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka Silva achieved the record and joined the 200 club. Nissanka is the 10th player to achieve the feat.

Nissanka scored 210 off 139 balls with 20 fours and eight sixes. Sri Lanka scored a gargantuan total of 381 runs for the loss of three wickets in 50 overs. Afghanistan is still struggling with the bat while chasing the total.

10 players have scored a double century in ODI cricket so far. Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has achieved this feat three times, tops the list. Rohit also has the best individual score of 264 runs in ODIs.

Out of ten players who have scored double centuries, seven of them are from Asia. Five of them are Indian players. In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar scored the first double-century in the history of ODI cricket. Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma later achieved this feat. Other Indian players are Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman, New Zealand's Martin Guptill, West Indies' batting marvel Chris Gayle and Australia's Glenn Maxwell are the other players who have achieved the record in ODIs.