Once the greats of international cricket, Sri Lanka was often the team to beat across formats. The island nation has been home to some great aggressive batters who have gone on to reach immense heights in T20Is including a World Cup in 2014. Here is a look at the batters with the highest score for Sri Lanka in a T20I match.
Highest score for Sri Lanka in a T20I match
| Player | Runs | Balls | Opposition | Fours/Sixes | Strike Rate | Match Date |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 104* | 57 | Australia | 12/5 | 182.45 | 6th August, 2011 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 100 | 64 | Zimbabwe | 10/4 | 156.25 | 3rd May, 2010 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 98* | 56 | West Indies | 9/4 | 175 | 7th May, 2010 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 96* | 57 | West Indies | 12/2 | 168.42 | 19th June, 2009 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 89 | 51 | England | 11/3 | 174.50 | 27th March, 2014 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 88 | 44 | Kenya | 11/4 | 200 | 14th September, 2007 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 86 | 63 | Australia | 12/1 | 136.50 | 8th August, 2011 |
| Asela Gunaratne | 84* | 46 | Australia | 6/5 | 182.60 | 19th February, 2017 |
| Isuru Udana | 84* | 48 | South Africa | 8/6 | 175 | 22nd March, 2019 |
| Kusal Perera | 84 | 59 | Pakistan | 5/4 | 142.37 | 13th December, 2013 |
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan ranks first on this list of the highest score for Sri Lanka in a T20I. Dilshan played an unbeaten knock of 104 runs against Australia in Pallekele in 2011. His 104 came in just 57 balls. Dilshan was great against the pace quartet of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Shane Watson. The Sri Lankan opener scored 98 runs in just 46 balls against the four fast bowlers. His knock which consisted of 12 fours and five sixes saw all the boundaries coming against the pacers.
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene is only one of the two batters who have scored a century for Sri Lanka in T20Is courtesy of which he finds himself second on this list. Jayawardene scored 100 runs in 64 balls against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup in 2010. The seasoned opener for Sri Lanka smashed 10 fours and four sixes before being dismissed by left-arm spinner, Ray Price. His ton helped Sri Lanka to win the match by 15 runs (DLS Method).
Mahela Jayawardene
Just four days after his century against Zimbabwe, Mahela Jayawardene missed out on a century against the West Indies. The Sri Lankan opener played an unbeaten knock of 98 runs in just 56 balls smashing nine fours and four sixes. Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara shared a 166-run partnership which proved to be a match-winning stand as the West Indies lost the match by 57 runs.
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Just like Jayawardene against the West Indies, Tillakaratne Dilshan too missed out on a century in the T20 World Cup in 2009 against West Indies. The opener played scored 96 runs in 57 while remaining not out. In his knock, Dilshan smashed 12 fours and two sixes. Sri Lanka won the match by 57 runs despite West Indies skipper, Chris Gayle being unbeaten in the second innings.
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene features on this list for the highest score for Sri Lanka in a T20I. Just like his other two knocks, Jayawardene’s 89 runs against England came in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Alex Hales overshadowed Jayawardene’s fine knock. A century from the English opener meant that Sri Lanka lost the match by six wickets in the final over.
Sanath Jayasuriya
As he was in ODI cricket, Sanath Jayasuriya started his T20I cricketer aggressively. Jayasuriya in the inaugural T20 World Cup against Kenya scored 88 runs in just 44 balls hitting 11 fours and four sixes. He even took a wicket in the second innings as Sri Lanka won by 172 runs.
Mahela Jayawardene
For the fourth time, Mahela Jayawardene’s name appears in this list. Just two days after Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed the highest score in T20I for Sri Lanka, Jayawardene scored 86 runs in 63 balls against Australia. The seasoned opener smashed 12 fours and a solitary six in his innings before being dismissed by speedster, Brett Lee.
Asela Gunaratne
Asela Gunaratne has the joint-eighth highest score for Sri Lanka in a T20I. Gunaratne scored 84 runs in just 46 balls against Australia at Geelong smashing six fours and five sixes. His knock in the second innings and a wicket earned Sri Lanka the win by two wickets on the final ball of the match.
Isuru Udana
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Isuru Udana’s unbeaten knock of 84 runs came against South Africa at Centurion in 2019. Unfortunately for Udana his knock in the second innings and a wicket in the first innings was not enough as the hosts won the match by 16 runs.
Kusal Perera
Kusal Perera opening the batting for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in 2013 scored 84 runs in just 59 balls hitting five fours and fours sixes. His knock helped Sri Lanka to score 211 runs and win the match by 24 runs.
