Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara extended his stellar first-class run in 2026 by hitting a third hundred of the calendar year.
Uncapped Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara hits third first-class century of calendar year
Bandara, batting at No.6 for Dambulla, scored 128 as his side posted 451 in the first innings of their National Super League game against Kandy. On top of this being his third century this year, it was also his third consecutive score of over 50 in the format, having scored 95 and 69 in his last two matches.
Bandara now has 822 runs in first-class cricket this year at 102.75, with three hundreds and two fifties, including a 200* against Police SC in the Major League Tournament – his top score in the format. The tremendous run of form also includes a 151* against Burgher RC.
Also read: Sri Lankan wicketkeeping duo narrowly misses tons in first-class outing
Dambulla batted first against Kandy, but were soon reduced to 36-3, with their top three all falling within 10 overs of the innings. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Vishad Randika steadied the ship, adding 119 runs for the fourth wicket before the former fell for 53.
Bandara then joined Randika in the middle, with the latter completing his eighth first-class hundred in the process. He was dismissed for 104 in the third session of day one of the four-day affair, but Bandara ensured Dambulla didn’t lose any more wickets until stumps, with No.7 Kavindu Pathiratne for company.
After seeing off day one, the duo went about their business on the second day, with the wicketkeeper-batter completing his fourth first-class ton in his 26th match in the format. Pathiratne hit a career-best 78 as well, adding 161 runs with Bandara for the sixth wicket and taking Dambulla past the 400-run mark.
Match 5, Kandy vs Dambulla
vs
Bandara was the ninth wicket to fall for his team, who went on to post 451. With the 128-run knock, the wicketkeeper took his tally in the ongoing National Super League to 292 runs in three matches at 97.33. He had scored 551 runs at 78.71 in nine matches of the 2025/26 Major League Tournament. This century also took his over first-class batting average to 60.55; he now has 1,635 runs to his name.
Image courtesy: Anjala Bandara/Instagram
