IANS

Johannesburg, Sep 19: Sri Lanka now hold the unique record of having posted the highest totals in all three forms of international cricket - Tests, one-dayers and Twenty20, largely thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Sri Lankans achieved the feat against Kenya in their Group C clash in the Twenty20 World Championships at the Wanderers here last Friday and one man has played a major role in all three records.

Veteran Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya scored 88 runs off 44 balls to anchor his side to a total of 260 for six in 20 overs. It was no mean feat for the dashing batsman who happens to be one of the oldest players in international cricket at 38.

Jayasuriya had smashed 157 off 104 balls to give his side a total of 443 for nine in the ODI against the Netherlands in Amstelveen last year.

Some commentators remain sceptical about these two Sri Lankan records because they were set in matches against minnows of international cricket - the Netherlands and Kenya - but others say because these were official games on the ICC calendar, they have to be acknowledged.

Just over a decade ago, Jayasuriya became the first Sri Lankan to pass the magical 300-mark in Tests when he scored 340 against India in Colombo. This allowed the home side to reach 952 for six, breaking a 60-year-old record set by England against Australia at the Oval in 1938.