Chandimal smashes 354* to create history

by Roscoe Thattil

Former Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal who joined the Army from NCC earlier this season, lit up the final round of matches of the Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) Premier League Tier A – Super 8s, when he smashed the record for the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in a domestic First-Class game.

He went past the record of 351 set by Kithuruwan Vithanage against Air Force SC in 2015, after he remained unbeaten on 354* on day two in Army SC’s encounter against Saracens SC.

His knock which came off 391 balls included 33 fours and nine sixes, as it helped the soldiers declare their innings on 642/8 after winning the toss and batting first.

However, Mahela Jayawardene’s 374 against South Africa is on top of the list of highest scores by a Sri Lankan in First-Class cricket, as Test matches are also considered as First-Class games.

Chandimal also became the second batsman this season to reach the 1000 run mark, after NCC’s Lahiru Udara became the first player to achieve this feat on Tuesday(25). Chandimal has racked up 1027 runs in eight matches this season so far, while he has also notched up three centuries and four half centuries.