He gave the world the "Dilscoop" and now Tillakaratne Dilshan will play his final One-Day International in Dambulla against Australia on Sunday. He will call it a day after playing the two-match Twenty20 International series, ending on September 9.
In his remarkable cricket career, the 39-year-old has played in 87 tests, scoring 5,492 runs. In 329 ODIs, he has scored 10,248 runs, which include 22 hundreds. In 78 T20Is, he has hit 1,884 runs. He is the fourth batsman after Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to cross 10,000 ODI runs for Sri Lanka.
Here are five innings which made world cricket take notice of the talent and calibre the Sri Lankan ace possessed.
Brilliant ton against England at the 2011 World Cup
Dilshan hit an unbeaten century in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup to help Sri Lanka register an easy win in front of its home crowd in Colombo. Dilshan scored 108 off 115 balls, which included 10 fours and two sixes.
Destroying the Kiwi challenge
Dilshan was at the forefront of things when he hit an unbeaten 102 at the Pallekele stadium in Kandy. He helped Sri Lanka win the series 2-0 in the third ODI. He paced his innings with brilliance and ensured Sri Lanka had an easy ride home.
Demolishing the mighty Aussies
Dilshan struck an enthralling century to secure a 35-run victory over Australia in a Twenty20 international game in Kandy. Dilshan made 104 in 57 balls with 12 fours and five sixes. He hammered 67 from his final 23 deliveries, a sequence that effectively decided the match.
Standing ovation at Lord’s
In tough English conditions, Dilshan stood tall at Lord’s in Sri Lanka’s second Test out a three-match series. However, his innings at Lord’s was nothing short of spectacular hitting, as he went on to score an exquisite 193.
Handing India a masterclass in batting
Dilshan smashed his 11th century in ODIs, and his fourth against India, by scoring an unbeaten 160 at Hobart. He is the only batsman to register two innings of 150 or more in a losing cause. Lanka lost to India by seven wickets in the triangular Commonwealth Bank Series.
