Hasaranga joins elite T20I list, becomes second-fastest to 100 wickets in win over Afghanistan

Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga joined an elite club on Monday as he became only the second Sri Lankan cricketer to take 100 T20I wickets, achieving the feat during the second match of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Hasaranga, who is currently the captain of the T20I side, achieved this milestone in his 63rd T20I, making him the second-fastest to 100 T20I wickets. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 2/19 in his four overs in Dambulla and now has 101 wickets in 63 T20Is at an average of 15.36 and an economy rate of 6.78.

In the second T20I, Sri Lanka put up a modest total of 167/6 in 20 overs after being put into bat by Afghanistan, with Sadeera Samarawickrama and Angelo Mathews being the standout performers with the bat. In response, the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Hasaranga, restricted Afghanistan to just 115 in 17 overs, sealing a comprehensive 72-run victory for the home team.

Apart from Hasaranga’s milestone, Mathews, Dinura Fernando, and Matheesha Pathirana also chipped in with two wickets each as Sri Lanka’s bowling attack ran through the Afghanistan batting lineup. This emphatic victory has now given Sri Lanka a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Hasaranga’s achievement comes as a testament to his prowess as a bowler, and it solidifies his position as one of the most impactful T20I bowlers in the world since making his debut in 2019. With his consistent performances, Hasaranga has not only made a mark for himself but has also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s recent successes in T20 cricket.