Sri Lankan openers Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamudithacreated history during their ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 opener against Japan U19 in the Group A contest on Saturday (January 17) at Windhoek.

After Japan chose to field first, while the Lankan openers Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha set a record Youth ODI partnership, Viran recorded the highest individual score in the tournament history, as he closely missed out on the first double-hundred in the competition's history. 

Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha had record-breaking 328-run opening partnership

Both the Sri Lankan openers slammed centuries, as they recorded the 328-run partnership for the first wicket in 43.5 overs. Dimantha scored 115 off 125 balls with 11 fours, while Viran scored 192 off 143 balls with 26 fours and one six. 

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Viran Chamuditha holds record of highest score in U19 World Cup history

The 17-year-old Viran now holds the record for the highest score in the history of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. The previous tournament record was 191 by another Sri Lankan cricketer Hasitha Boyagoda against Kenya U19 in the 2018 edition. Viran also moves to the second position in the list of the highest individual scores in the Youth ODI history, while the record is 215 by South African Jorich Van Schalkwyk against Zimbabwe U19 in 2025. 

Meanwhile, Dimantha and Viran had a 328-run partnership for the first wicket, as it was the second 300+ partnership and the highest partnership for any wicket in the Youth ODI history. The previous record was a 303-run partnership between the English batters Dan Lawrence and Jack Burnham for the second wicket against Fiji U19 in the 2016 U19 World Cup. 

Also, the Lankan skipper Vimath Dinsara scored 44 not out off 24 balls with one four and two sixes, as Sri Lanka U19 scored 387/4 in 50 overs. It was the ninth-highest total in U19 World Cup history, while Sri Lanka recorded their second-highest total in the competition's history.