A Twenty20 International (T20I) is a form of cricket, played between two of the international members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), in which each team faces a maximum of twenty overs. The matches have top-class status and are the highest T20 standard. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket. The first Twenty20 International match between two men's sides was played on 17 February 2005, involving Australia and New Zealand. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack reported that "neither side took the game especially seriously", and it was noted by ESPNcricinfo that but for a large score for Ricky Ponting, "the concept would have shuddered". However, Ponting himself said "if it does become an international game then I'm sure the novelty won't be there all the time". This is a list of Sri Lanka Cricket team's Twenty20 International records. It is based on the List of Twenty20 International records, but concentrates solely on records dealing with the Sri Lankan cricket team. Sri Lanka played the first ever T20I in 2006.

Key

The top five records are listed for each category, except for the team wins, losses, draws and ties, all round records and the partnership records. Tied records for fifth place are also included. Explanations of the general symbols and cricketing terms used in the list are given below. Specific details are provided in each category where appropriate. All records include matches played for Sri Lanka only, and are correct as of August 2020.

Team records

Overall record

Team wins, losses, draws and ties

As of June 2024, Sri Lanka has played 191 T20I matches resulting in 85 victories, 100 defeats, 4 ties and 2 no results for an overall winning percentage of 44.50.

First bilateral T20I series wins

First T20I match wins

Team scoring records

Most runs in an innings

The highest innings total scored in T20Is has been scored twice. The first occasion came in the match between Afghanistan and Ireland when Afghanistan scored 278/3 in the 2nd T20I of the Ireland series in India in February 2019. The Czech Republic national cricket team against Turkey during the 2019 Continental Cup scored 278/4 to equal the record. The highest score for Sri Lanka is 260/3 scored against Kenya during the 2007 World Twenty20.

Fewest runs in an innings

The lowest innings total scored was by Isle of Man against Spain when they were dismissed for 10 during the Isle of Man's 2023 tour of Spain. The lowest score in T20I history for Sri Lanka is 77 scored against South Africa in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Most runs conceded an innings

The first match of the Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in 2016 saw Sri Lanka concede their highest innings total of 263/3.

Fewest runs conceded in an innings

The lowest score conceded by Sri Lanka for a full inning is 39 when they dismissed the Netherlands during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Most runs aggregate in a match

The highest match aggregate scored in T20Is came in the match between India and West Indies in the first T20I of the August 2016 series at Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill when India scored 244/4 in response to West Indies score of 245/6 to loose the match by 1 run. The first match of the Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in 2016 saw a total of 441 runs being scored, the most involving Sri Lanka.

Fewest runs aggregate in a match

The lowest match aggregate in T20Is is 57 when Turkey were dismissed for 28 by Luxembourg in the second T20I of the 2019 Continental Cup in Romania in August 2019. The lowest match aggregate in T20I history for Sri Lanka is 79 scored during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 against Netherlands.

Result records

A T20I match is won when one side has scored more runs than the runs scored by the opposing side during their innings. If both sides have completed both their allocated innings and the side that fielded last has the higher aggregate of runs, it is known as a win by runs. This indicates the number of runs that they had scored more than the opposing side. If the side batting last wins the match, it is known as a win by wickets, indicating the number of wickets that were still to fall.

Greatest win margins (by runs)

The greatest winning margin by runs in T20Is was Czech Republic's victory over Turkey by 257 runs in the sixth match of the 2019 Continental Cup. The largest victory recorded by Sri Lanka was during the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 by 172 runs against Kenya.

Greatest win margins (by balls remaining)

The greatest winning margin by balls remaining in T20Is was Austria's victory over Turkey by 104 balls remaining in the ninth match of the 2019 Continental Cup. The largest victory recorded by Sri Lanka is during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 against the Netherlands when they won by 9 wickets with 90 balls remaining.

Greatest win margins (by wickets)

A total of 22 matches have ended with chasing team winning by 10 wickets with New Zealand winning by such margins a record three times. Sri Lanka have won by 9 wickets on four occasions.

Highest successful run chases

Australia holds the record for the highest successful run chase which they achieved when they scored 245/5 in response to New Zealand's 243/6. The highest successful chase for Sri Lanka is 194/4 against Bangladesh during the Sri Lanka's tour of Bangladesh in 2018.

Narrowest win margins (by runs)

The narrowest run margin victory is by 1 run which has been achieved in 15 T20Is. The narrowest win margin for Sri Lanka is 2 runs achieved three times.

Narrowest win margins (by balls remaining)

The narrowest winning margin by balls remaining in T20Is is by winning of the last ball which has been achieved 26 times. Sri Lanka has achieve victory of the last ball on four occasions.

Narrowest win margins (by wickets)

The narrowest margin of victory by wickets is 1 wicket which has settled four such T20Is. The narrowest victory by wickets for Sri Lanka is two wickets.

Greatest loss margins (by runs)

Sri Lanka's biggest defeat by runs was against Australia in the Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in 2019 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia.

Greatest loss margins (by balls remaining)

The largest defeat suffered by Sri Lanka was against New Zealand in New Zealand during the 2016 T20I Series when they lost by 9 wickets with 60 balls remaining.

Greatest loss margins (by wickets)

Sri Lanka have lost a T20I match by a margin of 10 wickets on one occasion.

Narrowest loss margins (by runs)

The narrowest loss of Sri Lanka in terms of runs is by 3 runs suffered twice.

Narrowest loss margins (by balls remaining)

Sri Lanka has suffered loss with one ball remaining four times.

Narrowest loss margins (by wickets)

Sri Lanka has suffered defeat by 1 wicket once.

Tied matches

A tie can occur when the scores of both teams are equal at the conclusion of play, provided that the side batting last has completed their innings. There have been 19 ties in T20Is history with Sri Lanka involved in four such games.

Individual records

Batting records

Most career runs

A run is the basic means of scoring in cricket. A run is scored when the batsman hits the ball with his bat and with his partner runs the length of 22 yards (20 m) of the pitch. India's Rohit Sharma has scored the most runs in T20Is with 4,231. Second is Virat Kohli of India with 4,188 ahead of Babar Azam from Pakistan in third with 4,145. Tillakaratne Dilshan is the leading Sri Lankan batsmen on this list.

Fastest runs getter

Most runs in each batting position

Most runs against each team

Highest individual score

The third T20I of the 2018 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series saw Aaron Finch score the highest Individual score. Dilshan holds the highest such score for a Sri Lankan batsmen.

Most individual score in each batting position

Highest individual score – progression of record

Highest score against each opponent

Highest career average

A batsman's batting average is the total number of runs they have scored divided by the number of times they have been dismissed.

Highest Average in each batting position

Most half-centuries

A half-century is a score of between 50 and 99 runs. Statistically, once a batsman's score reaches 100, it is no longer considered a half-century but a century.

Virat Kohli of India has scored the most half-centuries in T20Is with 38. He is followed by Pakistan's Babar Azam on 36 & India's Rohit Sharma with 32, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan on 29. Tillakaratne Dilshan has the most half-centuries among Sri Lankan batsmen.

Most centuries

A century is a score of 100 or more runs in a single innings.

Rohit Sharma & Glen Maxwell has scored the most centuries in T20Is with 5. Dilshan and Mahela, with one such knocks, hold the Sri Lankan record.

Most Sixes

Most Fours

Highest strike rates

Suryakumar Yadav of India holds the record for highest strike rate, with minimum 250 balls faced qualification, with 179.56. Thisara Perera is the Sri Lankan with the highest strike rate.

Highest strike rates in an inning

Dwayne Smith of West Indies strike rate of 414.28 during his 29 off 7 balls against Bangladesh during 2007 ICC World Twenty20 is the world record for highest strike rate in an innings. Jehan Mubarak with his innings of 46* off 13 balls against Kenya in the same tournament holds the top position for a Sri Lanka player in this list.

Most runs in a calendar year

Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan holds the record for most runs scored in a calendar year with 1,326 runs scored in 2021. Pathum Nissanka scored 713 runs in 2022, the most for a Sri Lanka batsmen in a year.

Most runs in a series

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh saw Virat Kohli set the record for the most runs scored in a single series scoring 319 runs. He is followed by Tillakaratne Dilshan with 317 runs scored in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

Most ducks

A duck refers to a batsman being dismissed without scoring a run. Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka, Pakistan's Umar Akmal and Ireland's Kevin O'Brien has scored the equal highest number of ducks in T20Is with 10 such knocks.

Bowling records

Most career wickets

A bowler takes the wicket of a batsman when the form of dismissal is bowled, caught, leg before wicket, stumped or hit wicket. If the batsman is dismissed by run out, obstructing the field, handling the ball, hitting the ball twice or timed out the bowler does not receive credit.

Tim Southee of New Zealand, is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is. Wanindu Hasaranga, former of Sri Lanka, is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is for Sri Lanka.

Most wickets against each team

Fastest to multiples of 50 wickets

Best figures in an innings

Bowling figures refers to the number of the wickets a bowler has taken and the number of runs conceded. India's Deepak Chahar holds the world record for best figures in an innings when he took 6/7 against Bangladesh in November 2019 at Nagpur. Ajantha Mendis holds the Sri Lankan record for best bowling figures.

Best figures in an innings – progression of record

Best Bowling Figure against each opponent

Best career average

A bowler's bowling average is the total number of runs they have conceded divided by the number of wickets they have taken. Nepalan's Sandeep Lamichhane holds the record for the best career average in T20Is with 12.56. Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lankan cricketer, is second behind Sandeep with an overall career average of 14.42 runs per wicket.

Best career economy rate

A bowler's economy rate is the total number of runs they have conceded divided by the number of overs they have bowled. New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, holds the T20I record for the best career economy rate with 5.70. Mendis, with a rate of 6.45 runs per over conceded over his 39-match T20I career, is the highest Sri Lankan on the list.

Best career strike rate

A bowler's strike rate is the total number of balls they have bowled divided by the number of wickets they have taken. The top bowler with the best T20I career strike rate is Rashid Khan of Afghanistan with strike rate of 12.3 balls per wicket. Ajantha Mendis is the Sri Lankan bowler with the lowest strike rate.

Most four-wickets (& over) hauls in an innings

Pakistan's Umar Gul, Afghanistan's Rashid Khan & Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan has taken the most four-wickets (or over) among all the bowlers. Mendis has taken the most such hauls among Sri Lankan bowlers.

Most five-wickets (& over) hauls in an innings

A five-wicket haul refers to a bowler taking five wickets in a single innings.

Best economy rates in an inning

The best economy rate in an inning, when a minimum of 12 balls are delivered by the bowler, is Sri Lankan player Nuwan Kulasekara economy of 0.00 during his spell of 0 runs for 1 wicket in 2 overs against Netherlands at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Best strike rates in an inning

The best strike rate in an inning, when a minimum of 4 wickets are taken by the player, is by Steve Tikolo of Kenya during his spell of 4/2 in 1.2 overs against Scotland during the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at ICC Academy, Dubai, UAE. Ajantha Mendis during both six-wicket spells in an inning also recorded the best strike rate for a Sri Lankan bowler.

Worst figures in an innings

The worst figures in a T20I came in the Sri Lanka's tour of Australia when Kasun Rajitha of Sri Lanka had figures of 0/75 off his four overs at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide.

Most runs conceded in a match

Kasun Rajitha also holds the dubious distinction of most runs conceded in a T20I during the aforementioned match.

Most wickets in a calendar year

Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga holds the record for most wickets taken in a year when he took 36 wickets in 2021 in 20 T20Is. Dushmantha Chameera with 22 wickets in 2021 and Lasith Malinga in 2009 jointly hold the Sri Lankan record for most wickets in a year.

Most wickets in a series

2019 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at UAE saw records set for the most wickets taken by a bowler in a T20I series when Oman's pacer Bilal Khan tool 18 wickets during the series. Hasaranga in the 2021 ICC World Twenty20 took 16 wickets, the most for a Sri Lankan bowler in a series.

Hat-trick

In cricket, a hat-trick occurs when a bowler takes three wickets with consecutive deliveries. The deliveries may be interrupted by an over bowled by another bowler from the other end of the pitch or the other team's innings, but must be three consecutive deliveries by the individual bowler in the same match. Only wickets attributed to the bowler count towards a hat-trick; run outs do not count. In T20Is history there have been just 13 hat-tricks, the first achieved by Brett Lee for Australia against Bangladesh in 2007 ICC World Twenty20.

Wicket-keeping records

The wicket-keeper is a specialist fielder who stands behind the stumps being guarded by the batsman on strike and is the only member of the fielding side allowed to wear gloves and leg pads.

Most career dismissals

A wicket-keeper can be credited with the dismissal of a batsman in two ways, caught or stumped. A fair catch is taken when the ball is caught fully within the field of play without it bouncing after the ball has touched the striker's bat or glove holding the bat, Laws 5.6.2.2 and 5.6.2.3 state that the hand or the glove holding the bat shall be regarded as the ball striking or touching the bat while a stumping occurs when the wicket-keeper puts down the wicket while the batsman is out of his ground and not attempting a run. Kumar Sangakkara is the highest ranked Sri Lankan wicket keeper in the all-time list of taking most dismissals in T20Is as a designated wicket-keeper, which is headed by India's MS Dhoni and West Indian Denesh Ramdin.

Most career catches

Sangakkara has taken the most catches in T20Is as a designated wicket-keeper with Dhoni and Ramdin leading the all-time list.

Most career stumpings

Sangakkara has made the most stumpings in T20Is as a designated wicket-keeper among Sri Lankan wicket-keepers with Dhoni and Kamran Akmal of Pakistan heading this all-time list.

Most dismissals in an innings

Four wicket-keepers on four occasions have taken five dismissals in a single innings in a T20I.

The feat of taking 4 dismissals in an innings has been achieved by 19 wicket-keepers on 26 occasions with Dinesh Chandimal being the only Sri Lankan wicket-keeper.

Most dismissals in a series

Netherlands wicket-keeper Scott Edwards holds the T20Is record for the most dismissals taken by a wicket-keeper in a series. He made 13 dismissals during the 2019 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. Sri Lankan record is held by Sangakkara when he made 9 dismissals during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

Fielding records

Most career catches

Caught is one of the nine methods a batsman can be dismissed in cricket. The majority of catches are caught in the slips, located behind the batsman, next to the wicket-keeper, on the off side of the field. Most slip fielders are top order batsmen.

South Africa's David Miller holds the record for the most catches in T20Is by a non-wicket-keeper with 62, followed by New Zealand's Martin Guptill with 58 and Shoaib Malik of Pakistan on 50. Thisara Perera is the leading catcher for Sri Lanka.

Most catches in an innings

The feat of taking 4 catches in an innings has been achieved by 14 fielders on 14 occasions with Chandimal being the only Sri Lankan fielder.

Most catches in a series

The 2019 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, which saw Netherlands retain their title, saw the record set for the most catches taken by a non-wicket-keeper in a T20I series. Jersey's Ben Stevens and Namibia's JJ Smit took 10 catches in the series. Thisara Perera with 6 catches in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy is the leading Sri Lankan fielder on this list.

Other records

Most career matches

India's Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most T20I matches played with 148, followed by Shoaib Malik of Pakistan with 124 and Martin Guptil of New Zealand with 122 games. Dasun is the most experienced Sri Lankan player having represented the team on 88 occasions.

Most consecutive career matches

Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad and Asghar Afghan hold the record for the most consecutive T20I matches played with 58. Angelo Mathews holds the Sri Lankan record.

Most matches as captain

MS Dhoni, who led the Indian cricket team from 2007 to 2016, holds the record for the most matches played as captain in T20Is with 72. Dasun Shanaka has led Sri Lanka in 46 matches, the most for any player from his country.

Youngest players on Debut

The youngest player to play in a T20I match is Marian Gherasim at the age of 14 years and 16 days. Making his debut for Romania against the Bulgaria on 16 October 2020 in the first T20I of the 2020 Balkan Cup thus becoming the youngest to play in a men's T20I match.

Oldest Players on Debut

The Turkish batsmen Osman Göker is the oldest player to make their debut a T20I match. Playing in the 2019 Continental Cup against Romania at Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground, Moara Vlăsiei he was aged 59 years and 181 days.

Oldest Players

The Turkish batsmen Osman Göker is the oldest player to appear in a T20I match during the same above mentioned match.

Partnership records

In cricket, two batsmen are always present at the crease batting together in a partnership. This partnership will continue until one of them is dismissed, retires or the innings comes to a close.

Highest partnerships by wicket

A wicket partnership describes the number of runs scored before each wicket falls. The first wicket partnership is between the opening batsmen and continues until the first wicket falls. The second wicket partnership then commences between the not out batsman and the number three batsman. This partnership continues until the second wicket falls. The third wicket partnership then commences between the not out batsman and the new batsman. This continues down to the tenth wicket partnership. When the tenth wicket has fallen, there is no batsman left to partner so the innings is closed.

Highest partnerships by runs

The highest T20I partnership by runs for any wicket is held by the Afghan pairing of Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani who put together an opening wicket partnership of 236 runs during the Ireland v Afghanistan series in India in 2019

Highest overall partnership runs by a pair

Umpiring records

Most matches umpired

An umpire in cricket is a person who officiates the match according to the Laws of Cricket. Two umpires adjudicate the match on the field, whilst a third umpire has access to video replays, and a fourth umpire looks after the match balls and other duties. The records below are only for on-field umpires.

Ahsan Raza of Pakistan holds the record for the most T20I matches umpired with 64. The most experienced Sri Lankan umpire is Ruchira Palliyaguruge with 40 matches officiated so far.

See also

• List of Twenty20 International records
• List of Test cricket records
• List of Cricket World Cup records
• List of One Day International cricket records

Notes

References