Shanaka sets Sri Lankan record in Colombo sixathon

Dasun Shanaka set a Sri Lankan record for most number of sixes in a T20 innings, hitting 16 of them, for Sinhalese Sports Club in a clash against Saracens Sports Club in Colombo on Tuesday. Along the way, Shanaka waltzed to 123 off 46 balls and took his team to a massive 251 for 6 in 20 overs. It proved to be 66 too many for the opponents.

Shanaka, who made his T20 debut against Pakistan in August last year, walked in to bat in the seventh over, featured in an 155-run stand off just 63 balls with Kavindu Kulasekara. His 16 sixes are also the joint second-highest by any batsman, equalling Graham Napier's feat in 2008. West Indies' Chris Gayle has the record with 17 of them in his innings of 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2013.

This was Shanaka's second T20 century in four matches. Last week, he hit 12 sixes and 10 fours in an unbeaten 48-ball 131 against Galle Cricket Club at the P Sara Oval.