Record Breaking Performance from Ajantha Mendis

4-2-8-6.Those are some insane figures!

Ajantha Mendis gave a world record breaking performance in the opening game of the World T20 against Zimbabwe, which home team and hot favourites Sri Lanka won comfortably.

The best figures in T20 internationals before this game were 4-1-16-6, which also belonged to Ajantha Mendis.

Not only did he overhaul his own feat, Mendis also became the only bowler to pick up a five wicket haul twice in T20 internationals.

Sorry, make that a 6 wicket haul twice in T20 internationals.

Mendis also bettered Umar Gul‘s 5-6 against New Zealand during the World T20 in 2009 to notch up the best ever figures in a World T20 game.

Before today’s opening game, Mendis was 6th on the list of highest wicket takers in T20Is. With today’s efforts he moved up to number 4 and sits behind the 3 Pakistanis at the top.

He also moved up to number 5, from number 9, in the list of highest wicket takers in World T20 games.

With South Africa also in their group, tougher tests await Sri Lanka, however they gave a very strong account of themselves today and showed why they are being considered as hot favourites for the title.

It was a good start for them at the World T20 and a tremendous start for Ajantha Mendis, who will continue to play a key role for Sri Lanka in this competition.