Tillakaratne Dilshan, with his outstanding hundred at Motera became the first batsman to register five hundreds during this calendar year.

By Rajesh Kumar

Three other batsmen have recorded four centuries each this year - England's Andrew Strauss, West Indian, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera.
 
Dilshan (112) has posted his second century against India - his tenth overall.  Dilshan has now five centuries each in Sri Lanka and away from home.
 
His innings is now the highest by a Sri Lankan against India in India, eclipsing Aravinda de Silva's 110 not out at Mohali in 1997-98.

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Dilshan is now the fourth Sri Lankan to post a hundred in India, joining Duleep Mendis (105 & 105 at Chepauk, Chennai in 1982-83), Aravinda de Silva (110 not out at Mohali in 1997-98) and Marvan Atapattu (108 at Mohali in 1997-98).
 
His aforesaid innings is his first century while batting at number one position.  While batting at number two position, he had registered 123 not out off 132 balls against New Zealand at Galle in August 2009.

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Apart from his hundred each at number one and two positions, Dilshan has recorded five hundreds at number six and three at number five.
 
Dilshan's best series has been against Bangladesh in 2008-09, aggregating 366 (ave.91.50) in two Tests, with a hundred in each innings of the Chittagong Test - 162 & 143.  
 
Dilshan's aggregate of 961 in nine Tests at an average of 73.92 is exceeded only by Thilan Samaraweera (1128) and Andrew Strauss (1071).  His strike rate of 85.42 this year is the best by any batsman.

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Dilshan and Kumar Sagakkara put on 115 for the second wicket, equalling Sri Lanka's highest for this wicket-position in India.  In the 1997-98 Mumbai Test, Marvan Atapattu and Dharmasena were involved in a 115-run stand.
 
Just for the record, Dilshan holds a record for the fastest fifty for Sri Lanka in Tests, taking only 30 balls against New Zealand at Galle this year.  His innings of 92 off 72 balls, with a strike rate of 127.77, was embellished with twelve fours and one sixes.
 
He has been adjudged the Man of the Match three times - once each against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

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