Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo [August 2-6, 1997].
In the monsoon of 1997, the Indian cricket team toured Sri Lanka to play 2 tests and 3 ODIs. Sri Lanka were the newly crowned World Champions, whereas India too was a strong side. Hence, everyone expected a strong contest between the two Asian powerhouses. Indian Captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a batting paradise. The decision turned out to be a good one, as the Indians piled up 537 in their first innings. Captain Tendulkar led from the front as he scored a majestic 143 runs. Apart from him, Navjot Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin also scored magnificent 100s as the visitors declared at a formidable total of 537.
However, in response, the Lankans did something that went into the history books. The hosts batted for the next 271 overs and scored a huge total of 952/6. Yes, you all read it right. 952 runs in a single inning. The same happened because their charismatic opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, scored a mammoth 340 of 578 deliveries. In this iconic innings of his, he scored 36 boundaries and 2 sixes. Apart from him, Roshan Mahanama too scored a magnificent 225 as Indian bowlers struggled to take wickets. The Test Match was truly a run fest.
Eventually the match ended in a draw, but the score of 952 is still to date the highest team total in test match history.
To watch the Sri Lankan Innings, Click Here.
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