Top 3 performances of Tillakaratne Dilshan in ODIs

Tillakaratne Dilshan, a Sri Lankan cricketer, was born on this day, October 14, in 1976, to a Malay father and a Buddhist mother. He played 87 Tests, 330 ODIs, and 80 T20Is for Sri Lanka from 1999 to 2016. He also captained the Sri Lankan national team.

Dilshan was a right-handed batter, right-arm off-spinner, and occasional wicket-keeper and made his ODI debut in 1999 against Zimbabwe. Dilshan scored 10290 runs at an average of 39.27 and strike rate of 86.23 in 330 ODIs, including 22 centuries and 47 fifties, with the best score of 161*. He also took 106 wickets at an economy of 4.87, with the best bowling of 4/4.

Here are the top 3 performances of Tillakaratne Dilshan in ODIs:

3. 161* vs Bangladesh, Melbourne, 2015 World Cup

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh clashed in the 18th match of the ICC World Cup 2015 in Melbourne. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and chose to bat first. Lahiru Thirimanne made 52 while opening the innings for Sri Lanka, and that was the only wicket Sri Lanka lost.

Dilshan made 161*, his highest ODI score, hitting 22 fours in 146 balls. He added 210 unbeaten runs for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara, who made 105* in 76 balls with 13 fours and one six as Sri Lanka posted 322/1 in 50 overs. Bangladesh was bowled out for 240 runs, losing the game by 92 runs, and Dilshan was named the Player of the Match in his final ICC World Cup tournament.

2. 160 vs India, Rajkot, 2009

India and Sri Lanka clashed in a high-scoring, thrilling match in Rajkot in 2009 that saw both teams scoring in excess of 400 runs. India batted first and put up 414/7 in 50 overs, thanks to Virender Sehwag’s 146 and half-centuries by Sachin Tendulkar (69) and MS Dhoni (72).

The target was a huge one, and Sri Lanka’s innings was carried by Dilshan. He added 188 runs for the opening wicket with Upul Tharanga, who made 67. Dilshan then added 128 runs for the second wicket with Sangakkara, who made 90 in just 43 balls with 10 fours and five sixes. Dilshan himself hammered 160 runs in 124 balls with 20 fours and three sixes. However, his effort went in vain as Sri Lanka made 411/8, losing the game by just three runs.

1. 160* vs India, Hobart, 2012

Tillakaratne Dilshan scoring runs in a thrilling match between Sri Lanka and India became a norm in the 2010s. This time it was the 11th match of the CB tri-series also involving Australia. Sri Lanka and India clashed in a crucial match in Hobart, with qualification for the final on the line for India.

Sri Lanka were asked to bat first and scored 320/4 in 50 overs. Sangakkara scored 105 runs with eight fours and two sixes, and added 200 runs for the second wicket with Dilshan, who hammered 160* in 165 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. But like in Rajkot, Dilshan’s effort went in vain as India, needing to chase the target inside 38 overs, did the same with Virat Kohli slamming 133* in 86 balls with 16 fours and two sixes and 63 by Gautam Gambhir.  

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