A spirited performance from Zimbabwe notwithstanding, Sri Lanka pulled off their highest chase in Test cricket to win the one-off Test against the visitors at the R Premadasa stadium on Tuesday (July 18).
A CHASE DONE WELL
Sri Lanka's day of statistical delight
All smiles in the Sri Lankan camp after a record chase. © AFP
Riding on a crucial 121-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne, and an equally important 67-run association for the seventh wicket between Gunaratne and Dilruwan Perera, Sri Lanka overhauled the target of 388 (reaching 391) with four wickets in hand to register their second successful 350-plus chase. Below are the statistical highlights of the home team's record victory:
391 is now the fifth-highest successful chase in Test cricket, displacing India's effort against England in Chennai in 2008. This is also the highest successful chase in Sri Lanka, surpassing Pakistan's 382 for 3 (target 377) in Pallekele in July 2015.
Highest chases in Test cricket:
| Team | Total | Target | Opposition | Venue | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 418 for 7 | 418 | Australia | St. Johns, Antigua | 9th May, 2003 |
| South Africa | 414 for 4 | 414 | Australia | Perth | 17th Dec, 2008 |
| India | 406 for 4 | 403 | West Indies | Port of Spain, Trinidad | 7th Apr, 1976 |
| Australia | 404 for 3 | 404 | England | Leeds | 22nd Jul, 1948 |
| Sri Lanka | 391 for 6 | 388 | Zimbabwe | Colombo (RPS) | 14th Jul, 2017 |
| India | 387 for 4 | 387 | England | Chennai | 11th Dec, 2008 |
| Pakistan | 382 for 3 | 377 | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 3rd Jul, 2015 |
10 - The number of times 350-plus targets have been chased down in Test cricket. Apart from Australia, who have successfully chased down 350-plus totals thrice, Sri Lanka and India are the only teams to have done it more than once. The previous instance for Sri Lanka came in August 2006 when a Mahela Jayawardene-led side managed to reach 352 with a wicket in hand in Colombo (SSC) against South Africa.
4 - The number of times 300-plus chases have been achieved since 2010. Australia's 310 for 8 against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2011, Pakistan's 302 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in January 2014 and Pakistan's 382 for 3 against Sri Lanka in July 2015 are the instances.
391 is Sri Lanka's joint second-highest fourth-innings total. They had scored 410 against Australia in Hobart in 2007 and 391 against Pakistan in Colombo (SSC). This is also their joint-highest fourth-innings total at home.
Sri Lanka's highest fourth-innings totals:
| Total | Result | Opposition | Venue | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 410 | lost | Australia | Hobart | 16th Nov, 2007 |
| 391 | draw | Pakistan | Colombo (SSC) | 20th Jul, 2009 |
| 391 | won | Zimbabwe | Colombo (RPS) | 14th Jul, 2017 |
| 352 | won | South Africa | Colombo (PSS) | 4th Aug, 2006 |
| 348 | lost | Australia | Hobart | 16th Dec, 1989 |
- No team apart from Sri Lanka has managed to chase down a 300-plus total against Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka have done it twice, with the first instance coming in January 1998 when an Arjuna Ranatunga-led side managed to reach 326 with five wickets in hand in Colombo (SSC). The next best successful chase against Zimbabwe is Pakistan's 192 for 7 in Harare in March 1998.
- The number of individual centuries in Sri Lanka's fourth innings effort against Zimbabwe in this game. This is the first instance of a team chasing down a 350-plus target without a three-figure contribution.
121 - Partnership runs added by Dickwella and Gunaratne is the fourth best for the sixth wicket for Sri Lanka in the fourth innings and the second best in a victorious cause.
67 - The number of runs added by Gunaratne and Perera for the seventh wicket in the fourth innings. This is Sri Lanka's highest seventh-wicket association in a winning cause, surpassing Mahela Jayawardene and Farvez Maharoof's 62-run partnership against South Africa in Colombo (SSC) in August 2006.
© Cricbuzz
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