Flashback: Batter with the most Asia Cup centuries
The sixteenth edition of the Asia Cup is here as six sub-continent sides battle it out for the Asian glory. It’s a prestigious tournament filled with memorable encounters and some solid individual performances over the years. Scoring a hundred in such a big competition is always special for any batter. A few quality ones have managed to hit a few centuries in Asia Cups (ODI) but former legendary player Sanath Jayasuriya tops the chart.
Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya has smashed a total of six hundred in this competition as he occupies the top spot in this elite list. His countryman Kumar Sangakkara is second behind him with four tons to his name. Star India player Virat Kohli and veteran Pakistani Shoaib Malik are joint-third with three centuries.
Jayasuriya played his first-ever Asia Cup game against India in Cuttack in 1990. The destructive left-handed batter first reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh in Colombo (SSC) in 1997 when he struck 108 off just 83 with 14 fours and three sixes.
Mister consistent
His second ton came against India in Dhaka in 2000 when he managed to score 105 off 116 with the help of 11 fours. The explosive opener slammed two in the next edition which was held in his country Sri Lanka four years later in 2004. Jayasuriya racked up 107* off 101 which included 11 fours against the Bangla Tigers in Colombo (RPS).
India was at the receiving end once again as Jayasuriya hammered 130 off 132 with 14 fours and a maximum a few later. With this, he took his tally to four with his side also lifting the elusive trophy in 2004. The tournament was then staged in Pakistan in 2008 and it was déjà vu for the legendary batter and his side. He struck 130 off just 88 with 16 fours and six maximums against Bangladesh in Karachi.
But the best one was yet to come as Jayasuriya amassed 125 off 114 with the help of nine fours and five sixes against India in the all-important grand final at the same venue. Ajantha Mendis spun his web with figures of 6/13 (8) as Sri Lanka beat India in the summit clash to win yet another title. Jayasuriya’s last appearance in an Asia Cup saw him scoring a ton and his side winning the final.
