Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka created history during the T20 World Cup match against Oman by becoming the fastest Sri Lankan batter to score a half-century in the tournament’s history. Shanaka reached the milestone in just 19 balls, surpassing a long-standing 19-year-old record.

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a massive 225 runs in 20 overs, their second-highest total ever in T20 World Cup history. Shanaka played a crucial role in the onslaught, scoring 50 runs off 20 balls at a stunning strike rate of 250, which included five sixes and two fours.

Previously, the record for the fastest T20 World Cup fifty by a Sri Lankan was held by Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a half-century in 21 balls against Kenya during the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup. Jayawardene’s innings had helped Sri Lanka register 260 runs in that match, still the highest team total in T20 World Cup history.

By reaching his fifty in 19 balls, Shanaka not only rewrote Sri Lankan records but also delivered one of the most explosive innings of the ongoing tournament, underlining his impact as captain and finisher on the global stage.