Sri Lanka are not just the defending World Twenty20 champions. They have a penchant for creating records in all forms of cricket. Sometimes, they make it look quite incredible too.
For example, Sri Lanka hold the record for highest team score in ODI cricket (443/9 vs Netherlands), the highest team score in Test cricket (952/6 vs India) and highest team score in Twenty20 internationals (260/6 vs Kenya).
With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 underway, here is a look at some of the records Sri Lanka have created at the event over the years. Mind you, these records are only part of a long list, and Sri Lanka have dominated the records division here too.
1) Highest T20I score (260/6 vs Kenya, ICC World Twenty20 2007): India may have won the inaugural edition of the World T20, but Sri Lanka created two records in their game against Kenya. First, they hammered Kenya for 260 runs in their 20 overs. The assault was led by Sanath Jayasuriya (88 off 44 balls) and Mahela Jayawardene (65 off 27 balls). When they were out, Jehan Mubarak emerged to smash 46 off just 13 balls to take Lanka to 260/6. The record has stood the test of time.
2) Highest margin of victory by runs (172 runs vs Kenya, ICC World Twenty20 2007): This was the other record the islanders created in that mismatch at Johannesburg. After destroying the hapless Kenyans with the bat, Sri Lanka rendered them 88 all out, with several bowlers taking wickets. Victory by 172 runs still remains a record at the Twenty20 World Cup.
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Highest T20 Score Sri Lanka vs Kenya by great-and-funny-videos
3) Most runs at the World Twenty20 (1016 runs by Mahela Jayawardene): Mahela may no longer be playing cricket, but he was a model of consistency for several years with the bat for Sri Lanka. At the World Twenty20, Jayawardene holds the record for the highest run aggregate, with 1016 runs at an average of 39 and strike rate of 134. He has made one century and six fifties in 31 innings, which means he has also scored several important 30s and 40s to add to his run tally. 2010 was his best year, when he scored 302 runs at an average of 60, including a century against Zimbabwe. Incidentally, Mahela also holds the record for the most boundaries hit at the World T20 by a single batsman - 111.
4) Highest partnership at the World Twenty20 (166 runs between Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara): Mahela Jayawardene is part of another record - and with his famed batting partner Kumar Sangakkara. The pair hold the record for the highest partnership for any wicket at the World Twenty20, of 166 runs against West Indies in 2010.
5) Most wickets at the World Twenty20 (38 by Lasith Malinga): Lasith Malinga is one of the best bowlers in Twenty20 cricket ever, so how can he miss out on a record? The maverick fast bowler has claimed 38 wickets at the world event - 7 in 2007, 12 in 2009, 6 in 2010, 8 in 2012, and 5 in 2014. In the first two editions, Malinga was at his best, but it was his 5/31 against England in 2012 that stands out as his best.
6) Most wickets in a single edition of the World Twenty20 (15 by Ajantha Mendis in 2012): Ajantha Mendis may have lost his 'mystery' by the time 2012 arrived, but he was pretty deadly that year at the World Twenty20. He took 15 wickets at the event, including 6/8 against Zimbabwe which enabled Sri Lanka to crush the minnows by 82 runs. The 6/8 is also the best bowling figures by any bowler at the World Twenty20. Interestingly, Mendis also holds the record for the best strike rate and best average for minimum 250 balls (13.40 and 15.02) at the event.
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Since the ICC World Twenty20 2016 takes place in the subcontinent (India), Sri Lanka are one of the favourites. Though they may not have the services of some of the above mentioned players any more, expect the islanders to create a few more records in this edition of the mega event.
