Pathum Nissanka became the tenth batter to score a double hundred in men’s ODI cricket when he hit 210* against Afghanistan in Pallekele today (February 9). Here’s a round-up of all the other instances where batters have reached this milestone.
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Nissanka hit 210 off 139 in the first ODI of the three-match series, batting through having opened the innings. He hit 28 boundaries during the knock, including eight sixes – three of which came in the last over of the innings. Having reached 196* at the start of the final over, Charith Asalanka managed to get a single off Fareed Ahmed’s first ball to get Nissanka on strike. He then duly delivered with a four squeezed through backward point to become the first double centurion for Sri Lanka in a men’s ODI.
The previous record for the highest score for Sri Lanka in a men’s ODI was held by Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 189 against India in 2000. No other played has passed 150 for Sri Lanka in the last decade. In the all-time standings, Nissanka’s 210* is the joint fifth-highest score ever, alongside Fakhar Zaman and Ishan Kishan, who scored 210* and 210 against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh respectively.
HISTORY FOR SRI LANKA! 🇱🇰
Pathum Nissanka’s 210* off 139 deliveries against Afghanistan is the highest ever score by a Sri Lankan in ODI history 🙌#SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/U6L5J567ko
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 9, 2024
The record holder for the highest score in men’s ODI cricket is Rohit Sharma, who scored 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in 2014. Of the ten batters who have scored more than 200 in a single innings in the format, Rohit is the only player to have done so more than once. In addition to the Eden Gardens knock, he scored 209 against Australia in 2013 and 208* against Sri Lanka in 2017.
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There have been 12 instances of double centuries being scored in men’s ODIs, among which India are the most represented side with seven entries. In addition to Rohit and Kishan, Virender Sehwag, Shubman Gill and Sachin Tendulkar also feature. Tendulkar scored the first double hundred in the format, reaching the milestone against South Africa in 2010.
The record for the most sixes in a double hundred innings is jointly held by Rohit and Chris Gayle, who hit 16 maximums in their entries. The highest score for a not-out batter is Martin Guptill’s 237* against West Indies in 2015, which is also second on the all-time highest scores. Glenn Maxwell is the only non-opener to score a double century in men’s ODIs, and the only batter to do so while chasing, achieving the feats in his epic stand against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup.
Batters who have scored double-centuries in men’s ODIs
Rohit Sharma, India, 264 (173) v Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, 2014
Martin Guptill, New Zealand, 237* (163) v West Indies, Wellington, 2015
Virender Sehwag, India, 219 (149) v West Indies, Indore, 2011
Chris Gayle, West Indies, 215 (147) v Zimbabwe, Canberra, 2015
Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan, 210* (156) v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2018
Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka, 210* (139) v Afghanistan, Pallekele, 2024
Ishan Kishan, India, 210 (131) v Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2022
Rohit Sharma, India, 209 (158) v Australia, Bengaluru, 2013
Rohit Sharma, India, 208* (153) v Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2017
Shubman Gill, India, 208 (149) v New Zealand, Hyderabad, 2023
Glenn Maxwell, Australia, 201* (128) v Afghanistan, Wankhede, 2023
Sachin Tendulkar, India, 200* (147) v South Africa, Gwalior, 2010