India in Sri Lanka: History of Test matches- Part 1

Jul 23, 2017 at 2:23 PM

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India in Sri Lanka: History of Test matches- Part 1

The cricketing focus will shift to Sri Lanka in a few days time as India gears up for a full series comprising of 3 Tests, 5 ODI’s and 2 T20I’s and it won’t be wrong to say that the Men in Blue will start as the clear favourites especially after Sri Lanka’s lackluster performance in the recent past. It will be for the 9th time India will be travelling to Sri Lanka for a full Test series excluding the one played during the Asian Test Championship.

There has been some exceptional series between the two teams on the Sri Lankan soil with the hosts coming triumphant on most occasions. India has won Test series in Sri Lanka twice, once under Mohammad Azharuddin in 1993 and the 2nd being the most recent one in 2015 under Virat Kohli. So as we approach the 3 match Test series let us have a look at the history of Test cricket between the two countries played in the island nation.

1985 – SRI LANKA BEAT INDIA 1-0

This was the first time India was travelling to Sri Lanka, 4 years after the Islanders got their Test status. Nothing much was expected of the relatively inexperienced Sri Lankan side led by Duleep Mendis. The Kapil Dev led India side looked formidable on paper but in the very first match of the series they got to the real character of the Sri Lankan side.

India was reduced 65/5 in the 1st innings before vital contributions from Sunil Gavaskar and lower-order contribution from Kapil Dev, Sadanand Vishwanath helped India go past the 200 mark. They were eventually bowled out for 218. The hosts got a crucial 129 runs lead courtesy maiden Test centuries by Ranjan Madugalle and Arjuna Ranatunga.

India batted well in the 2nd essay with Dilip Vengsarkar grinding his way to a 98 while Lalchand Rajput contributed with 61. India set Sri Lanka a target of 123 runs in 10 overs which was unrealistic in those days. Despite playing an excellent brand of cricket a maiden Test, a victory still eluded them but it was not long before they got their maiden Test victory in the 2nd Test.

Amal de Silva’s brilliant maiden century and a sensational 95 by Roy Dias in the 1st essay helped Sri Lanka score an impressive 386 on the board. The Indian middle batting failed yet again and despite half-centuries from Gavaskar, Srikanth and Amarnath, they could only master 244. Rumesh Ratnayake bagged 4 wickets which halted India’s progress.

Sri Lanka batted brilliantly for yet another time declaring the innings on 206, giving India 348 to win in the final essay. Rumesh Ratnayake was the star for Sri Lanka yet again as he finished with 5 wickets which enabled the hosts to bundle out the hosts for a paltry 198. It was a historic achievement by the side winning their very first Test match ever.

The visitors needed to respond in the final Test to level the series but yet again their batsmen failed and they could only manage 249 in their 1st innings. Left-arm spinner Maninder Singh kept India in the game with a four wicket haul which skittled out the hosts for a meagre 198 runs. Mohinder Amarnath scored a century in the 2nd innings to set Sri Lanka a target of 377 runs.

Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev gave the hosts an early scare by reducing them to 34/3 but a brilliant double century partnership between Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias put paid to India’s hopes of levelling the series. The match ended in a draw giving Sri Lanka their maiden Test series victory.

1993 – INDIA BEAT SRI LANKA 1-0

This was the first time India managed to win a series in Sri Lanka under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin. This was definitely different from the first time India had toured Sri Lanka as the islanders now had the experience of playing 12 years in the international circuit. The first Test in Kandy was washed out to due to torrential rains. Kapil Dev broke Sunil Gavaskar’s record for most Tests with 125 caps to his name. India batted first in the 2nd Test and courtesy a brilliant century by youngster Vinod Kambli and a stroke filled 82 by Navjot Singh Sindhu the visitors managed to score 366 in the 1st innings.

Anil Kumble bowled brilliantly and returned with a five wicket haul which helped India bowl out the hosts for 254 runs. A brilliant 171 runs opening stand between Sidhu and Manoj Prabhakar got India off to a brilliant start and a century from Sachin Tendulkar further helped them strengthen their position in the match. A target of 472 was an impossible task for the hosts and they were bowled out for a mere 236 runs. Manoj Prabhakar and Anil Kumble bagged 3 wickets each.

Aravinda de Silva scored a magnificent century for Sri Lanka in the 1st innings of the third Test helping Sri Lanka post 351 runs. India batted brilliantly in the 1st innings courtesy yet another century from southpaw Vinod Kambli. India managed to score 445 which ensured a series victory for them. Sri Lanka batted out the rest of the match with Roshan Mahanama scoring 152.

 1997 – SERIES DRAWN 0-0 

India toured the island nation for a two match series a year after Sri Lanka’s historic World Cup victory. They were the new masters in ODI cricket but this was a different ball game altogether. The wickets in both the Tests were placid where tons of runs were scored. In the first Test at Colombo records tumbled; one after the other.

Batting first India posted a huge 542 courtesy centuries from Navjot Singh Sidhu (111), Sachin Tendulkar (142) and Mohammad Azharuddin (126) but what transpired next what nothing short of extraordinary. Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahnama shared a world record 576 runs partnership which was then the highest partnership for any wicket.

The dangerous Jayasuriya looked well set to break Brian Lara’s record 375 but he was eventually dismissed by Rajesh Chauhan on 340. Mahanama scored 225 which enabled Sri Lanka to post the biggest total in Test history till date. 952/6 was simply an astounding number. Quite clearly it became a dead rubber by then and the match ended in a draw.

It was a run fest in the 2nd Test as well with 6 centuries being scored in total. Courtesy a masterful century by Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka scored 332 in their 1st innings. Pacer Debashish Mohanty bagged 4 wickets. India got a slender lead of 43 runs after centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly helped them post 375.

De Silva scored yet another century in the 2nd innings and Jayasuriya fell just a solitary run short of a brilliant double century as Sri Lanka mastered 415/7 giving India 373 to chase. Mohammad Azharuddin’s whirlwind innings gave India a realistic chance but eventually the game ended in a draw which meant the series was shared 0-0.

1999 – ONE-OFF TEST DRAWN

The match was a part of the Test Championship which saw both teams scoring heavily. Riding on 143 from the blade of Sadagopan Ramesh and a 107 by Rahul Dravid, India posted a mammoth 518 runs on the board.

The match announced the arrival of a future legend Mahela Jayawardena who blazed his way to a brilliant double century and ensured Sri Lanka didn’t lose the match. His 242 of 465 deliveries helped Sri Lanka post 485 on the board. The match was a mere formality from there as it headed towards a tame draw.

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