Highest Individual Score for Sri Lanka in Test

Sri Lanka was granted test playing status by the ICC in 1981 and they played their first ever Test match in February 1982 against India. However, it took them three and a half years to register their first victory in the red-ball game. That too came against India in September 1985. So far, they have played a total of 307 matches.

Sri Lanka has won 98 games, lost 117 and 92 matches ended in a draw. But in the history of Test cricket, Sri Lanka holds some incredible records that are impossible to break. They hold the record for the highest total by a team in an inning. Sri Lanka made 952/6d against India and also holds the record for the highest partnership of 624 in Test cricket. Notably, three Sri Lankan batters have scored a triple century. In this article, we will discuss the highest individual score for Sri Lanka in test cricket.

3. Kumar Sangakkara (319 runs) against Bangladesh at Chattogram

Kumar Sangakkara was one of the greatest batsmen of all time and ended his career as Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer. He also holds the record for the second-highest number of double centuries (11 times) in test cricket. He is third on this list. In a match against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. They had a pretty average start, but still managed to reach 587 runs in 156.4 overs. That was largely thanks to one of the greatest innings by Sangakkara . The southpaw made his maiden triple century and scored 319 runs with 32 fours and eight sixes.

In reply, Bangladesh also batted well and scored 426 runs with the help of Shamsur Rahman (106) and Imrul Kayes (115). Sri Lanka got a lead of 161 runs and made 305/4 in their second innings and declared. Sangakkara made another century and scored 105 runs, while Dinesh Chandimal made 100*. They gave Bangladesh a target of 467. But Bangladesh batted well and managed 271/3, before the match was called a draw. (Fun Fact: Kumar Sangakkara became only the second batter in the history after Graham Gooch (333 & 123), to hit a triple century and a century in one innings.)

2. Sanath Jayasuriya (340 runs) against India at Colombo (RPS)

The second highest individual score for Sri Lanka against India in a match full of runs. It was the first game of India’s tour of Sri Lanka. India won the toss and batted first. They had a really good batting performance, with three Indian batters scoring centuries. India declared at 537/8 in 167.3 overs with Navjot Sidhu (111), Mohammad Azharuddin (126) and skipper Sachin Tendulkar (143). In reply, Sri Lanka batted for the next three remaining days.

The match ended in a draw with only two innings played and only 14 wickets falling in five days. Sri Lanka made a massive 952/6 in 271 overs, which is still the highest score by any team. They had one century, one double century, and one triple century. Aravinda de Silva made 126, while Roshan Mahanama scored 225 runs. But the greatest innings came from the bat of Sanath Jayasuriya. The southpaw made 340 runs with 36 fours and two sixes to register the second highest score by a Sri Lankan batter.

1. Mahela Jayawardene (374 runs) against South Africa (fourth highest in test)

Mahela Jayawardene was the greatest batter for Sri Lanka in all three formats. He has won many matches single-handedly for his team. He is at the top of the list. In the first match of the two-match series at Colombo (SSC) in July 2006, he registered the fourth highest score by any batter in the test. South Africa won the toss and batted first, but that ended up being the wrong decision. They got all out for just 169 runs.

In reply, Sri Lanka also lost their first two wickets for just 14 runs, but what happened next was just incredible. The pair of Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara batted for 157 overs, almost two days, and made the biggest partnership in test cricket. Both batters added 624 runs for the third wicket, and Sri Lanka declared at 756/5. Sangakkara made 287 runs with 35 fours. But Jayawardene, who was looking good for a 400, got out at 374 runs. South Africa lost the match by an innings and 153 runs after being all out for 434 runs in their second innings.

(Fun Fact: The partnership (624 runs) between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene is the highest in any form and at any level in cricket.)

List of Highest Individual score in Test by Sri Lanka

Team Wise Highest Individual Score in Test