Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has rewritten the record books in the Caribbean Premier League, producing the fastest century in the tournament’s history during a remarkable display of power hitting.
Representing the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Shanaka reached his hundred from just 39 deliveries against the St Lucia Kings in a league-stage match at Basseterre on Thursday. He remained unbeaten on 121 from 43 balls, striking eight fours and 12 sixes in an extraordinary innings that transformed the contest.
Shanaka’s century surpassed the previous CPL record of 40 balls, jointly held by Andre Russell and Tim Seifert. By reaching three figures one delivery earlier, the 34-year-old Sri Lankan established a new benchmark for rapid scoring in the competition.
His innings was central to a commanding Patriots total of 235 for four. Andre Fletcher provided valuable support at the other end, scoring 64 from 38 deliveries. The pair laid the foundation for a huge total before Shanaka accelerated dramatically in the latter stages.
The Kings never recovered from the pressure created by the target. Their chase collapsed quickly, with the side bowled out for only 98 in 13.5 overs. The Patriots therefore secured a comprehensive victory, with Shanaka’s century becoming the defining feature of the match.
Speaking after the game, Shanaka explained that his approach had been deliberately measured at the beginning of his innings. Rather than immediately attempting to attack, he concentrated on assessing the quality of the deliveries, the field placements and the options presented by the bowlers.
Once he became convinced that the pitch offered favourable batting conditions, however, his intent changed. Shanaka began taking greater risks whenever the ball entered his preferred hitting areas, allowing him to shift from controlled accumulation to sustained aggression.
The opportunity to bat at No. 3 also played a significant role in his record-breaking performance. In the Patriots’ previous match against the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Shanaka had batted at No. 7 and finished unbeaten on 49. This time, he was promoted much higher in the order.
Shanaka said the decision to move him up was jointly taken by head coach Malonan Rangarajan and captain Jason Holder. He also acknowledged the discussion around his batting position, noting that commentators had been talking about the possibility of giving him an earlier opportunity.
Holder, meanwhile, praised the all-rounder’s recent form and the way he capitalised on the additional time at the crease. The Patriots captain said the team wanted to make the most of Shanaka’s current rhythm, particularly when the match situation allowed him more deliveries to face.
According to Holder, Shanaka’s innings demonstrated a familiar feature of his batting: patience at the start followed by explosive acceleration once he settles in. That progression was evident against the Kings, as Shanaka initially assessed the conditions before launching a relentless assault in the latter stages.
The result was one of the most destructive individual innings seen in the CPL. Shanaka’s unbeaten 121 not only gave the Patriots a formidable total but also secured his place in the competition’s record books, with his 39-ball century now standing as the fastest in CPL history.
