CSK's Matheesha Pathirana Breaks Lasith Malinga's 5-Year-Old Record During SL vs AFG

Matheesha Pathirana claimed 8 wickets in three T20Is. vs Afghanistan [X.com]

A T20 enigma from Sri Lanka, Matheesha Pathirana created history during the recently concluded 20-overs series against Afghanistan last evening.

Pathirana, who is known for his unique action, set the Sri Lankan record for most wickets in a bilateral T20I series for a fast bowler, picking up eight wickets in the three-match tourney against visiting Afghanistan.

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With this Pathirana also broke former legend Lasith Malinga's 2019 record of seven wickets against New Zealand in three matches.

Apart from Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep and Dusmantha Chameera also picked up seven wickets each in series against Pakistan (2019) and Australia (2022), respectively. 

Pathirana claimed the record during the third and final T20I on Wednesday, where Sri Lanka ended up losing the tie by merely three runs, however, winning the series 2-1. The young pacer picked up wickets of Azamatullah Omarzai, and Karim Janat.

Earlier, in the series, Pathirana also registered a four-wicket haul in the first T20I, with figures of  24 for four. This was also his career-best where Sri Lanka won by four runs.

Since 2021, the 21-year-old has played 40 T20 and scalped 55 wickets, which witnessed the bowler rise the ranks after stellar outings for Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK). 

Overall, Pathirana has played just four T20Is for Sri Lanka, and taken eight wickets.

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The bowler will be seen in action next in the upcoming edition for IPL, which starts sometime in March.