What Is Sri Lanka's Highest Successful Run Chase In Tests?

Sri Lanka needs 372 runs to beat India in Galle [Source: AFP]

The first Test in Galle between India and Sri Lanka is evenly poised as the hosts did extremely well in the second innings to bundle out the Indian team for just 193. On a surface that started to offer assistance to the spinners, the Lankan bowlers ran riot and made sure the game could still be won by them.

The Indian batters struggled in their second innings, and that means the hosts need 372 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The target seems tricky on a turning Galle wicket, and moreover, Sri Lanka will miss their key batter, Dinesh Chandimal, who was ruled out of the Test match midway.

With the home team needing a difficult target to seal the win, we take a look at Sri Lanka’s highest successful run-chase in Tests, and whether the team has the firepower to pull off an impossible.

Sri Lanka's highest successful run-chase in Tests

388 is the highest successful run chase in a Test by Sri Lanka. They chased down this target against Zimbabwe in Colombo (RPS) in 2017, scoring 391/6 to win by four wickets.

Only twice has the Lankan Lions chased down a total in excess of 350 in Tests, and hence, the chances of beating India looks bleak at the moment.

Instances of 350+ Targets Chased Successfully by Sri Lanka in Tests:

388 vs Zimbabwe, Colombo (RPS), 2017

352 vs South Africa, Colombo (PSS), 2006

Interestingly, only once has a target in excess of 300 has been chased down in Galle, and it was Pakistan in 2022, who attained the target of 342 with four wickets to spare.

Challenges for Sri Lanka as they look to chase down 372

If Sri Lanka chase down 372, it would be their second-highest successful run-chase in Tests, but the task for the hosts won’t be easy.

There are two major hurdles for the hosts as they aim to beat India in Galle. Number one, their main middle-order batter, Chandimal, has been ruled out due to a concussion, and he has been replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara.

Chandimal has an excellent Test record against India, and the team will miss his services in the fourth-innings run chase against India in Galle.

Moreover, the ball has started to grip and turn, and India has three quality spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar, and the Sri Lankan batters need to play them carefully to achieve their target.

More to follow...