By Parth Dhall
Copyright newsbytesapp
Star Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka has completed 50 sixes in Men’s T20I cricket. The 27-year-old reached the landmark in the 2025 T20 Asia Cup encounter against Hong Kong at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Nissanka, who has been their mainstay opener, is the seventh Sri Lankan player with 50 sixes in T20 cricket. He starred in SL’s four-wicket win with a 44-ball 68. As mentioned, Nissanka has joined an elite club of Sri Lankan players with 50 T20I sixes. He attained the feat in his 70th appearance. The Lankan batter has joined the likes of Kusal Mendis (85-plus), Dasun Shanaka (70-plus), Kusal Perera (65-plus), Charith Asalanka (60-plus), Thisara Perera (50-plus), and Angelo Mathews (50). Former batters Mahela Jayawardene (33) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (33) are next. As per ESPNcricinfo, Nissanka has the second-most fours for Sri Lanka in T20I cricket. He is one of only three SL players with over 200 fours in the shortest format, the other being Dilshan and Perera. Nissanka single-handedly powered SL, who were chasing 150, to victory against Hong Kong in Dubai. He lost Kusal Mendis in the fourth over, while Kamil Mishara departed after scoring a run-a-ball 19. With SL behind the required run-rate, Nissanka scored successive boundaries in the 13th over. Getting the chase under control, he was run out for a 44-ball 68 (6 fours and 2 sixes). Nissanka, who made his T20I debut in 2021, recently raced past 2,000 runs in the format. In 70 T20Is, he owns 2,068 runs at a strike rate of 124.42. His tally includes 17 half-centuries. As per Cricbuzz, Nissanka now has the most 50-plus scores for SL in T20Is (17), going past Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera (16 each).
