Sri Lanka became only the third Asian team to become a test-playing nation in 1981. In this period, they have found many successes and improved as a team. Sri Lanka is considered one of the toughest teams to beat in their conditions. Sri Lanka holds many big records in the longest format of the game.
In this article, we will talk about the biggest wins for Sri Lanka in tests. The fourth-biggest win in test cricket is registered under the name of this country. There are many other big wins, about which we will talk here. So let’s check out the top ten biggest wins for the Sri Lankan team in test cricket.
Sri Lanka Highest Win Margin in Test Cricket (by Runs)
Margin | Target | Against | Venue | Date |
465 runs | 624 | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 3 Jan 2009 |
315 runs | 395 | Zimbabwe | Galle | 12 Jan 2002 |
313 runs | 493 | South Africa | Colombo (SSC) | 11 Aug 2004 |
288 runs | 473 | Bangladesh | Colombo (SSC) | 28 Jul 2002 |
278 runs | 352 | South Africa | Galle | 12 Jul 2018 |
259 runs | 457 | Bangladesh | Galle | 7 Mar 2017 |
257 runs | 491 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 6 Nov 2016 |
246 runs | 508 | Pakistan | Galle | 24 Jul 2022 |
241 runs | 427 | New Zealand | Napier | 11 Mar 1995 |
240 runs | 378 | West Indies | Kandy | 22 Jul 2005 |
3. Sri Lanka (313 runs) vs South Africa in 2004
Sri Lanka registered its third-highest win margin against South Africa in August 2004. It came in the second test of the two-match series in Colombo. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 470 runs in 142.3 overs in the first inning. Kumar Sangakkara scored a brilliant double ton and made 232 runs with 31 fours and one six. South Africa scored only 189 runs in reply in 69.1 overs.
Sanath Jayasuriya picked up 5/34 in that inning. Sri Lanka got a big first-inning lead of 281 runs. The hosts batted again in the second inning and declared it in 55 overs at 211/4. Marvan Atapattu (72) and Sangakkara (64) played well. South Africa got a target of 493 runs and got dismissed for 179 in 67 overs. The Sri Lankan team registered a big win by 313 runs.
2. Sri Lanka (315 runs) vs Zimbabwe in 2002
The second-highest win margin for the Sri Lankan team was registered against Zimbabwe in January 2002. It was the third game of the three-match series in Galle. The hosts won the toss and decided to bat first. They scored 418 runs in the first inning, with four batters scoring half-centuries. Upul Chandana scored the most runs, with 92. In response, Zimbabwe made 236 runs in 134.3 overs.
The Sri Lankan team took a lead of 182 runs. Batting in the second inning, Sri Lanka scored 212/2 in 41 overs and declared the inning. Marvan Atapattu scored a quick 100 off 126 balls, and Zimbabwe got a target of 395 runs. The Sri Lankan bowlers gave nothing and dismissed Zimbabwe for just 79 runs in 43.3 to win the game by 315 runs.
1. Sri Lanka (465 runs) vs Bangladesh in 2009
The highest win for the Sri Lankan team in red-ball cricket was registered in January 2009 against Bangladesh in an away game. Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh for two tests, and it was the second game in Chattogram. Batting first, Sri Lanka made 384 runs in 94 overs. Tillakaratne Dilshan made 162 off 165 balls, with 21 fours and two sixes. Bangladesh tried hard but reached only 208 runs in 76.2 overs.
Sri Lanka took a healthy lead of 176 runs in the first inning. In the second inning, the Sri Lankan batsmen performed better. They made 447/6 in 127 overs and declared the inning. Dilshan scored yet another century and made 143 runs. Bangladesh were set to chase down the target of 624 runs, and they ended up with 158 runs in 49.2 overs. As a result, Sri Lanka won the game by 465 runs. It is also the biggest win for an Asian team.