Dimuth Karunaratne is considered as one of the best Test openers in the world.
81 Facts About Dimuth Karunaratne
2.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the opening batter for Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
3.
Dimuth Karunaratne plays first-class cricket for the Sinhalese Sports Club.
4.
Since 2015, Karunaratne has become the leading batsman for Sri Lanka in Tests due to his century making in the second innings of Test matches.
5.
Dimuth Karunaratne was described as second-innings specialist by many commentators.
6.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored four centuries in the second innings out of the six centuries he made until October 2017.
7.
On 7 October 2017, Dimuth Karunaratne became the second Sri Lankan opener after Tillakaratne Dilshan to score three Test centuries in a calendar year.
8.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the only batsman after Ridley Jacobs to carry his bat in a Cricket World Cup.
9.
Dimuth Karunaratne attended the St Joseph's College Colombo, which has produced a number of Sri Lankan Test cricketers such as Angelo Mathews and Chaminda Vaas.
10.
Dimuth Karunaratne was a record-breaking batsman for the school's cricket team.
11.
Dimuth Karunaratne played in two matches on the tour, scoring four runs against England in Manchester, and 60 against Scotland in Edinburgh.
12.
Dimuth Karunaratne was selected in Sri Lanka's Test squad for its tour of South Africa at the end of 2011, although did not play in any of the three Tests.
13.
In February 2019, Dimuth Karunaratne signed for Hampshire County Cricket Club as their overseas player for the first half of the 2019 season.
14.
On 25 March 2021, during National Super Provincial 4-Day Tournament, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 44th First Class Century.
15.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored unbeaten 125 hitting 15 boundaries and one six.
16.
Dimuth Karunaratne's knock helped to chase down 218 run target and guide towards an eight wicket victory for the Colombo team.
17.
Dimuth Karunaratne was called up into the Test squad for the home Tests against New Zealand during late 2012.
18.
Dimuth Karunaratne got the opportunity due to Tillakaratne Dilshan being unable to make the XI because of an injury.
19.
Dimuth Karunaratne debuted in the first Test of he series at Galle, only to get out for a duck in the first innings.
20.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 152 runs from 363 balls in the second match of the series, when Sri Lanka were in deep trouble.
21.
Dimuth Karunaratne was picked in the original squad for 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, but during a practice match against England, he broke a bone in his right hand and was removed from the team after the match.
22.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 186 runs before being dismissed by the bowling of Marlon Samuels.
23.
Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the first over of each innings.
24.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored just 41 runs in three matches, including five single-digit scores, for an average of 6.83 in six innings.
25.
Dimuth Karunaratne won player of the series for his batting performance, scoring 280 runs at an average of 70.00.
26.
Dimuth Karunaratne took his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara during the second Test against India at SSC.
27.
Dimuth Karunaratne fell just short 4 runs away from a maiden double century, after he poked at a short delivery that came back slightly off the seam and the ball took his inside edge, hit his thigh pad, and clattered into his stumps.
28.
Dimuth Karunaratne was the second batsman to get to 1000 Test runs in 2017, after South African opener Dean Elgar.
29.
Dimuth Karunaratne was the seventh Sri Lankan to score 1000 Test runs in a calendar year as well.
30.
On 12 July 2018, during first test against South Africa, Dimuth Karunaratne played his 50th test match.
31.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored unbeaten 158 runs, and became the fourth batsman for Sri Lanka to carry his bat in Tests after Sidath Wettimuny, Marvan Atapattu and Russell Arnold.
32.
Dimuth Karunaratne became the third Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan to have made a hundred in their 50th Test.
33.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 60 runs in the second innings, which is the highest score in the innings for Sri Lanka.
34.
Dimuth Karunaratne was the only man to score more than 50 runs in the match, where all other 21 players did not scored more than 40s.
35.
Dimuth Karunaratne continued the best form in the second test as well, where he scored fifties in both innings for Sri Lanka with 53 and 85 respectively.
36.
Dimuth Karunaratne laid almost motionless as medical staff inspected and eventually stretchered him off the field, for medical attention.
37.
Dimuth Karunaratne was rushed to the hospital for further tests.
38.
Dimuth Karunaratne reached his 22nd test fifty and got out for 59 runs.
39.
Dimuth Karunaratne was named as the stand-in captain for the tour, while Chandimal was released to play domestic cricket and regain his form with the bat.
40.
On 13 February 2019, Dimuth Karunaratne became the 17th Test captain for Sri Lanka.
41.
Umpire Aleem Dar was unmoved, and after a short discussion Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne asked for a review - but Dar turned down the request on the basis that the visitors had taken too long to ask for it.
42.
However commentators confirmed that it took only 13 seconds when Dimuth Karunaratne asked for the review.
43.
In March 2019, Dimuth Karunaratne was arrested over a drink-drive incident in Colombo, which injured another motorist, and was later released on bail.
44.
Dimuth Karunaratne was fined, with Sri Lanka Cricket taking no further action on the incident.
45.
On 1 June 2019, in Sri Lanka's first match of the Cricket World Cup, Dimuth Karunaratne became the second cricketer to carry his bat in a World Cup match.
46.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the third Sri Lankan opener to score a century in fourth innings after Kusal Mendis and Sanath Jayasuriya.
47.
Dimuth Karunaratne won the man of the match award for his match winning performances.
48.
On 6 January 2021, during the second Test in South African series, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 10th test century in a stiff situation.
49.
In February 2021, Dimuth Karunaratne was named in Sri Lanka's Twenty20 International squad for their series against the West Indies.
50.
Dimuth Karunaratne batted entire 4th day with Dhananjaya De Silva who scored his 7th test century, without give any wicket to Bangladesh team and put strong partnership of 345 runs to put Sri Lanka in to safe position.
51.
Dimuth Karunaratne has batted through the Sri Lankan innings with his marathon lasting 11 hours.
52.
Finally match ended draw and Dimuth Karunaratne won player of the match award for his performance.
53.
Dimuth Karunaratne made 118 off 190 balls, having struck 15 boundaries.
54.
Courtersy of Thirimanne's century, Sri Lanka posted a huge first innings total of 493 and later Dimuth Karunaratne scored a brist 66 runs in the second innings.
55.
Dimuth Karunaratne was adjudged player of the series award for his batting performances.
56.
On 21 November 2021,1st test match against West Indies, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 13th test century.
57.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 147 runs from 300 ball in first innings and in second innings he scored 83 runs from 103 balls.
58.
Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 187 runs and Dimuth Karunaratne won player of the match award for his performance.
59.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the third highest test run scorer in 2021 scoring 902 runs in 13 innings with the average of 69.38 including four centuries and three half centuries.
60.
Dimuth Karunaratne was included into World Test XI by the ICC in 2021 for his year-all performances.
61.
On 14 March 2022, in the second test match against India, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 14th test century.
62.
Dimuth Karunaratne is only the second visiting opener to score a fourth-innings century in India.
63.
Dimuth Karunaratne equaled the record for most Test centuries by a batsman in day and night Tests.
64.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 107 runs from 174 deliveries hitting 15 boundaries.
65.
Dimuth Karunaratne became third Sri Lankan captain to score test century in India.
66.
Dimuth Karunaratne's efforts were in vain, as Sri Lanka lost the match by 238 runs.
67.
On 27th of July 2022 in Pakistan series, Dimuth Karunaratne scored 6000 test runs while reaching to his 31st test half century.
68.
Dimuth Karunaratne became 6th Sri Lankan batman to achieve that milestone.
69.
Dimuth Karunaratne went pass Sanath Jayasuriya's 5932 runs tally as an opener for Sri Lanka.
70.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 89 runs in the first innings and 51 runs in the second innings.
71.
Dimuth Karunaratne is third highest run scorer the series scoring 207 runs in 4 innings with the average of 51.75 including three half centuries.
72.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the second-highest run scorer among openers overall.
73.
On 16th April 2023, first test match against Ireland, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 15th test century.
74.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the first test cricketer from Sri Lanka to score a test hundred against Ireland.
75.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 179 runs from 235 balls hitting 15 boundaries.
76.
Dimuth Karunaratne put 281 run partnership for second wicket with Kusal Mendis.
77.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored 115 runs from 133 deliveries hitting 15 boundaries.
78.
From that knock, Dimuth Karunaratne equalled the record for most Test hundreds as an opener among Sri Lankan players.
79.
Dimuth Karunaratne equalled Marvan Atapattu's record of 16 Test tons with this knock.
80.
Dimuth Karunaratne put strong 228 run opening partnership with Nishan Madushka.
81.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the second highest run scorer in the series scoring 294 runs in two innings with the average of 147.