Dasun Shanaka was one of the most explosive batsmen of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with 121 runs in 43 balls to lift the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to a 137 run win over Saint Lucia Kings in the eagerly awaited CPL 2026 match. That was in 39 balls, which is the fastest century ever in the history of the competition, and sent shock waves through the cricket world and fans into delirium.
Shanaka’s performance was the turning point in a match that quickly became one-sided and the Patriots took the lead. Put up to bat first, the Patriots scored 235 runs for loss of 4 wickets. Their bowlers then dismantled the Saint Lucia Kings for 98 runs in 13.5 overs. This dominant victory not only showed the Patriots’ ability to dominate with the bat but also their bowling ability in the game of cricket so far.
RECORD BREAKER 🤩
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2026
Amazing scenes at Warner Park as Dasun Shanaka smashes the CPL record with a 39 ball 💯 😱🇱🇰#CPL26 #SKNPvSLK #DasunShanaka #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/w881tdoRrm
The match did not start well for the Patriots as they were down to Kyle Mayers to Matthew Forde early and Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles came in and started to get the innings back in a hurry. Fletcher was particularly aggressive in the Power Play and scored a blistering half-century from only 23 balls, with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots leading 59 runs for the loss of one wicket after just 6 overs.
Fletcher’s attacking approach continued to pay off and he finally scored 64 runs, setting the stage perfectly for Shanaka to launch his extraordinary attack on the Kings' bowling attack. When the Sri Lankan international came to the crease, the Kings’ bowlers were unable to contain the mounting pressure that Shanaka was exerting on them.
Shanaka started his innings a bit cautious and aggressive, before he quickly went on to move at a blistering pace. He hit his half-century in only 24 balls, and then he was off again and it was a crowd-pleasing moment for both spectators and opponents. A record-breaking 39 deliveries from Sri Lanka's big batsman led to the fastest century in the CPL for 39 balls.
That previous record had been broken by the notable players Tim Seifert and Shimron Hetmyer just one week earlier so for Shanaka in this instance the achievement is remarkable. His performance elevated him to the top of the list of greatest power-hitting performances in CPL history and cemented his status as one of the top players in the league’s best players.
To put this into perspective, the five fastest centuries in CPL history now include:
1. Dasun Shanaka – 39 balls
2. Andre Russell – 40 balls
3. Tim Seifert – 40 balls
4. Shimron Hetmyer – 40 balls
5. Shai Hope – 41 balls
6. Andre Russell – 42 balls
7. Nicholas Pooran – 45 balls
Shanaka’s last figures were even more remarkable than his century. He finished his innings with 121 runs from just 43 deliveries, eight fours and twelve sixes. His extraordinary ability to clear the boundary repeatedly changed the complexion of the Patriots’ innings, turning what could have been a formidable total into a monumental one.
The Patriots were particularly destructive in the final four overs of their innings. They were able to plunder 79 runs in that time, turning a solid total of 236 to a serious target for the Kings. Their final score of 235 for loss of 4 wickets is one of the highest team totals in CPL history and the seventh highest in all formats.
The Saint Lucia Kings needed a strong start to be competitive in the chase but their effort quickly unraveled in dramatic fashion. They lost three key wickets during the Power Play and fell at 46 for 3. The Patriots' bowlers (Wanindu Hasaranga, Naseem Shah and Ashmead Nedd) were making early breakthroughs and the Kings were not able to form any meaningful partnerships.
Tim Seifert attempted to anchor the innings and scored a half-century from 36 balls. But the pressure from Shanaka’s rampant innings meant that wickets kept falling all around him. The high asking rate of Shanaka's high scoring performance kept the Kings under pressure and ultimately they got bowled out for just 98 runs in just 13.5 overs.
Jeremiah Louis was the perfect end product for the Patriots. The bowler was able to deliver a five-wicket haul in 17 deliveries with 5 wickets for only 10 runs with 2.5 overs left in the innings. His devastating spell ensured that the Kings would not get close to the target and the innings was finished well before the 20 overs.
Shanaka's century and Louis' bowling performance were the most significant aspects of the Patriots' victory. The 137-run margin showed the gulf between the two teams on that day, and it gave the Patriots a great deal of momentum to go forward in CPL 2026.
Shanaka’s innings is one of the greatest achievements of his T20 career. He harnesses raw power, perfect timing and controlled aggression in a way that is simply amazing. His century breaking pace is now in the top of the CPL’s fastest century list and this is a testament to his talent.
As St Kitts and Nevis Patriots go into the next challenge against the Guyana Amazon Warriors they are buoyed with new confidence and momentum after the historic victory. Meanwhile the Saint Lucia Kings will do their best to put this heavy loss behind them as they go into the Barbados Tridents on Sunday. Shanaka’s amazing performance is immortalised in the history of the CPL and the Patriots will be buoyant going into their upcoming games looking to keep up with that great show.
