Kusal Mendis made a strong return to Sri Lanka’s ODI side, scoring a brilliant 121 off 100 balls against England in the second ODI at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday.

Leading Sri Lanka in the must-win game, Mendis came in at No. 3 and reached his century in just 82 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter had missed the T20I series last week because of an injury.

His innings was not only important for Sri Lanka’s hopes in the match but also saw him enter the record books.

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Mendis Joins Sangakkara in Elite List

Mendis became only the second Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century while leading the team.

The only other Sri Lankan to achieve the feat is Kumar Sangakkara. The former captain scored 111 off 128 balls against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 18, 2011.

Sangakkara was both Sri Lanka’s captain and wicketkeeper in that match.

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Highest ODI runs by Sri Lankan designated wicketkeeper-batter and captain (combined)

PLAYER RUNS BALLS 4s 6s AGAINST VENUE DATE
Kusal Mendis 121 100 14 3 England Leeds September 24, 2026
Kumar Sangakkara 111 128 12 2 New Zealand Wankhede March 18, 2011
Kumar Sangakkara 92 87 7 1 Canada Hambantota February 20, 2011
Kumar Sangakkara 90 43 10 5 India Rajkot December 15, 2009
Kumar Sangakkara 75 105 4 1 West Indies Colombo (SSC) February 6, 2011

Third Sri Lankan Captain to Score ODI Century Against England

Mendis’ century also put him in another exclusive list.

He became only the third Sri Lankan captain to score an ODI century against England, joining Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayasuriya and Jayawardene each scored two ODI centuries against England while captaining Sri Lanka.

Highest ODI runs by Sri Lanka captain against England

PLAYER RUNS BALLS 4s 6s VENUE DATE
Mahela Jayawardene 126* 127 19 0 Chester-le-Street June 24, 2006
Kusal Mendis 121 100 14 3 Leeds September 24, 2026
Sanath Jayasuriya 112 87 9 5 Leeds July 2, 2002
Sanath Jayasuriya 106 110 15 1 Sydney January 13, 2003
Mahela Jayawardene 100 83 9 0 Manchester June 28, 2006
Sanath Jayasuriya 99 83 9 2 Adelaide January 17, 2003

Mendis Enters Global Wicketkeeper Record

The Sri Lankan batter also became only the third wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century against England while leading.

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock was the first to achieve the feat when he scored 107 in Cape Town on February 4, 2020.

West Indies captain Shai Hope has also achieved the feat twice, with two ODI centuries against England as a captain and wicketkeeper-batter.

Babar Azam Still Holds Top Score

The record for the highest individual score by a captain against England in an ODI remains with Babar Azam.

The Pakistan batter smashed 158 off 139 balls in Birmingham on July 13, 2021. He remains the only captain to score more than 150 runs in an ODI innings against England.

Mendis Builds Two Important Partnerships

Mendis played a key role in Sri Lanka’s innings, putting together a 137-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis for the second wicket. Kamindu contributed 54 off 65 balls.

Mendis then added another 40 runs with Pavan Rathnayake for the third wicket. Rathnayake scored 48 off 39 deliveries.

Mendis’ impressive innings finally came to an end in the 36th over when Rehan Ahmed dismissed him, but by then the Sri Lankan captain had already made his mark on the game and the record books. Mendis' century helped Sri Lanka to win the second ODI by 16 runs to level the three-match series.