Sri Lanka was only the third Asian nation to make its debut in test cricket. The Sri Lankan team has achieved success in all three formats, with some big wins in ICC tournaments. But their best performance came in the test format. It can be said that they had an era that had the likes of Muthiah Muralidaran, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, and many more legends.
Sri Lanka has the record for most test wickets by Murali. They have also held the record for the top two biggest test partnerships in history. They also hold the record for the biggest test total of 952/6. But here, we will talk about the biggest defeat that Sri Lanka has suffered in test cricket.
Highest Win Margin in Test vs Sri Lanka
| Team | Margin | Target | Venue | Date |
| New Zealand | 423 runs | 660 | Christchurch | 26 Dec 2018 |
| Australia | 366 runs | 516 | Canberra | 1 Feb 2019 |
| India | 304 runs | 550 | Galle | 26 Jul 2017 |
| Pakistan | 301 runs | 483 | Colombo (PSS) | 9 Aug 1994 |
| South Africa | 282 runs | 507 | Cape Town | 2 Jan 2017 |
| India | 278 runs | 413 | Colombo (PSS) | 20 Aug 2015 |
| Pakistan | 263 runs | 476 | Karachi | 19 Dec 2019 |
| India | 259 runs | 509 | Ahmedabad | 18 Dec 2005 |
| India | 238 runs | 447 | Bengaluru | 12 Mar 2022 |
| India | 235 runs | 472 | Colombo (SSS) | 27 Jul 1993 |
3. India (304 runs) vs Sri Lanka in July 2017
Sri Lanka suffered their third biggest defeat in test cricket against India. It came when India came for a tour of three-match test series in 2017. It was the first test at Galle. Batting first, India posted a massive total of 600 runs in 133.1 overs. Shikhar Dhawan made 190 off 168 while Cheteshwar Pujara scored 153 runs. In reply, Sri Lanka managed a total of 291 runs in 78.3 overs.
Despite a lead of 309 runs, India didn’t enforce a follow-on. They batted again and scored 240/3 in 53 overs, declaring the innings. Skipper Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 103 runs. The hosts got a target of 550 runs to win. But they got all out for 245 runs in 76.5 overs, and India won the game by 304 runs.
2. Australia (366 runs) vs Sri Lanka in February 2019
Sri Lanka suffered their second biggest defeat in the longest format against Australia in Febraury 2019 in away test. Sri Lanka toured Australia for two tests and it came in the second game in Canberra. After winning the toss, Australia chose to bat. They made 534/5 runs in 132 overs and declared the inning. Joe Burns (180), Travis Head (161) and Kurtis Patterson (114*) scored centuries in the first inning.
In response, Sri Lanka got dismissed for 215 runs in 68.3 overs and conceded a first-inning lead of 321 runs. The Aussies batted again and scored 196/3 in 47 overs, declaring the inning to give a 516-run target to the Sri Lankan team. Usman Khawaja scored an unbeaten hundred (101) in the second inning. Chasing the target, the Sri Lankan team got all out for 149 runs in 51 overs and lost the game by 366 runs.
1. New Zealand (423 runs) vs Sri Lanka in December 2018
Sri Lanka’s biggest test defeat came in December 2018 in New Zealand. They went for two-match test series and it came in the second game in Christchurch. Sri Lanka won the toss and put the hosts to bat first. New Zealand had a poor batting display and the whole team got all out for just 178 runs in 50 overs. But the Kiwi bowlers made a great comeback and dismissed the visitors for just 104 runs in 41 overs.
Trent Boult picked up 6/30. With a decent lead of 74 runs, New Zealand batted brilliantly in the second inning. They made 585/4 in 153 overs and declared the inning. Tom Latham (176) and Henry Nicholls (162*) scored big centuries. Sri Lanka got a target of 660 runs. But they only managed 236 runs in 106.2 overs and lost the game by a massive 423 runs.