In a stunning display of power hitting, Dasun Shanaka, the former captain of Sri Lanka, made headlines by scoring the fastest century in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history. This remarkable achievement came just two days after he was recalled to the Sri Lankan ODI squad for their upcoming tour of England. Shanaka reached his hundred in a mere 39 balls, breaking the previous record jointly held by Andre Russell, Tim Seifert, and Shimron Hetmyer, all of whom had reached the milestone in 40 deliveries.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots faced off against the St. Lucia Kings, with the Patriots batting first. Shanaka entered the match at number four during the tenth over, with the scoreboard reading 89 runs. He quickly settled into his innings, hitting a couple of boundaries against Joshua Bishop in the 11th over. Shanaka's explosive batting truly came to life in the 12th over, where he dispatched Roston Chase for two consecutive sixes, showcasing his aggressive intent.
Despite losing his teammates Andre Fletcher, who scored a solid 64 off 38 balls, and Jason Holder in quick succession, Shanaka continued to dominate the bowling attack. He reached his fifty in just 24 balls, hitting a six in the 17th over. The following over saw him unleash his full potential, targeting his national teammate Maheesh Theekshana with two sixes and a four. Shanaka's onslaught didn’t stop there; he went on to hit two more sixes off Matthew Forde in the 19th over and then exploded in the final over bowled by Keon Gaston, scoring an astonishing 28 runs, which included four sixes and a four. This barrage propelled him from 93 to an unbeaten 121 in just six deliveries, solidifying his place in CPL history.
Shanaka finished his innings with an impressive 121 not out off just 43 balls, featuring eight fours and an astounding 12 sixes, resulting in a strike rate of 281.39. His 12 sixes are now tied for the second-most in a single CPL innings, alongside Rahkeem Cornwall, while Andre Russell holds the record with 13 sixes.
The Patriots' batting performance was complemented by a dominant bowling display, as they bowled out the Kings for a mere 98 runs. Jeremiah Louis led the charge with a five-wicket haul, contributing to a staggering 137-run victory for the Patriots. This win marks the largest margin of victory in CPL history, surpassing the previous record held by the Trinbago Knight Riders, who won by 133 runs against the Barbados Royals in 2023.
Following this emphatic victory, the Patriots improved their net run rate from -0.547 to 0.593, although they remained in fifth place with seven points. The Kings, on the other hand, slipped to fourth place, with their net run rate dropping to -0.888, now just one point ahead of the Patriots. Shanaka's record-breaking performance not only highlights his individual brilliance but also serves as a crucial boost for the Patriots as they continue their campaign in the CPL.
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