T20I debut- 3 highest individual scores by Sri Lankan players 

Here is a look at the leading three-run scorer for Sri Lanka, who contributed tremendously to the nation’s victory in their debut T20I game.

1. Oshada Fernando against Pakistan (78*)

Sri Lanka star batter Oshada Fernando registered the greatest number of runs for his nation during his T20I debut. The top-order batter made his short-format debut on October 9, 2019 against Pakistan in Lahore during the final match of the three-match T20I series. Fernando’s unbeaten 78 from 48 balls, featuring eight fours and three sixes, enabled Sri Lanka to post 147/7 in their first innings, while opting to bat first against the home team. Later, while chasing, the Men in Green were only able to rack up 134/6 in the given 20 overs and eventually lost the match and series.

2. Jehan Mubarak against Kenya (46*)

Sri Lanka middle order batter Jehan Mubarak made his T20I debut on September 14, 2007, during the T20I World Cup in South Africa. Notably, on that day, Kenya won the toss and invited the Jayawardane-led side to bat first. After putting the bat first, Sri Lanka posted a massive score of 260 runs in just 20 overs. The star batter had produced a magnificent unbeaten 46 runs from just 13 balls, featuring 3 fours and 5 sixes, with a strike rate of 354, to post such an enormous total against a frail team. Later, while chasing, Kenya were all bundled out for just 88 runs, while giving an impressive 172-run victory to Sri Lanka.

3. Danushka Gunathilaka (46)

Notably, on January 7, 2016, Sri Lanka’s top order batter, Danushka Gunathililaka, made his T20I debut against New Zealand during the first T20I of the three-match series. On that day, the Black Caps posted 182 runs on the board while being put to bat first by visitors. Later, while chasing, the star opener produced 46 runs from 29 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes with a decent strike rate of 154. As the star batter dismissed, no other players were able to build up a crucial partnership against the Kiwis and faced a defeat by a narrow margin of 3 runs against Williamson’s side.