Sri Lanka's opening batsman surpasses the record set by the former captain with a game-winning century in the second One-Day International against Zimbabwe.

Nissanka Shines as Sri Lanka Sweeps ODI Series Against Zimbabwe

Pathum Nissanka has once again proven his mettle as a rising star in Sri Lankan cricket, leading the team to a clean sweep of the two-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in Harare.

In the decisive second ODI, Nissanka scored a match-winning hundred, powering Sri Lanka to a thrilling victory with three balls and five wickets remaining. His impressive innings of 122 runs, laced with 16 fours, not only secured the series but also earned him the Player of the Series accolade.

Nissanka's stellar performance in the second ODI has propelled him to new heights in the Sri Lankan batting ranks. His 122 runs rank among the top scores by a Sri Lankan player in ODIs, and his seventh hundred in his career places him fourth among Sri Lankan openers.

The 24-year-old has also surpassed Marvan Atapattu to rank fourth among Sri Lanka's century-makers overall. Aravinda de Silva and Marvan Atapattu are the next players on the list that Nissanka could potentially overtake.

Nissanka's six centuries in successful run-chases place him joint-third on that list, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. His consistent performances since his debut have seen him score the most runs (2,746) during this period among all players.

In addition to Nissanka's heroics, Charith Asalanka scored 71 runs from the No. 5 position, while Ben Curran marked his third consecutive fifty-plus score in ODIs with a score of 79 runs. Sikandar Raza also contributed with an unbeaten 59 for Zimbabwe.

The series win marks Sri Lanka's first clean sweep in an ODI series since 2017, and it comes at a crucial time as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League matches.

Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Sanath Jayasuriya have scored more centuries than Nissanka among Sri Lanka openers, but the young batsman is quickly closing the gap. His seventh hundred in ODI career ranks him fourth among Sri Lanka openers, and he can still surpass players such as Sanath Jayasuriya and Niroshan Dickwella in the Sri Lankan national team.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka have never lost a match when Nissanka has scored a century, a testament to his impact on the team's success.

The clean sweep in Zimbabwe serves as a confidence booster for Sri Lanka ahead of their upcoming fixtures, and with Nissanka in form, they will be hoping for more impressive performances in the future.

Sri Lanka's opening batsman surpasses the record set by the former captain with a game-winning century in the second One-Day International against Zimbabwe.