Charith Asalanka
127 vs Australia
first ODI, Colombo
Battling cramps in humid conditions, Asalanka’s extraordinary rearguard helped turn a low-scoring game Sri Lanka’s way. Coming in at 30 for 3 in the sixth over – with Australia’s makeshift pace attack making the most of some early assistance – Asalanka saw his side slump to 55 for 5, and later, 135 for 8. That’s when the Sri Lanka captain, who was on 50 off 73 balls at the time, started capitalising on the tiring bowlers. Asalanka dominated a ninth-wicket stand of 79, to which Eshan Malinga contributed one run. Asalanka finished at better than a run a ball, scoring a shade under 60% of the team’s total of 214, which proved too much for Australia.
