Sri Lanka’s batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya had a special liking for the Indian bowlers during his career spanning from 1989 to 2011.
He scored 938 runs in 10 Tests and 2,899 runs in 89 ODIs, scoring 3 and 7 hundreds in each of the formats against India.
With his hard-hitting style of batting, Jayasuriya decimated the Indian bowling attack on a number of occasions. He has recorded his highest Test (340) and ODI (189) score against India.
On his 48th birthday, here’s a look at the five times Jayasuriya pummeled India.
1. 340, 1st Test, Colombo 1997
Sanath Jayasuriya had a field day against the Indian team in the first Test in Colombo in August 1997. India would have thought they were in a good position after posting 537/8d in the first innings and reducing Sri Lanka to 39/1 at the end of Day 2.
But then the Sanath Jayasuriya-Roshan Mahanama onslaught began. India didn’t get a single wicket for the next two days until Mahanama was trapped LBW by Anil Kumble on day 5.
But not before the duo strung a partnership of 576 runs, which was the highest-ever partnership at that time.
Jayasuriya scored a whopping 340 runs off 578 balls. The innings included 36 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Sri Lanka eventually recorded the highest-ever Test total – 952/6d, which is still unbroken.
2. 199, 2nd Test, Colombo, 1997
After India eked out a 43-run lead, Jayasuriya in the second innings, took the onus of playing an innings that took the match away from India.
Marvan Atapattu and Mahanama fell cheaply, but then Aravinda de Silva came in and put on 218 runs with Jayasuriya, which took Sri Lanka to a safe position in the match.
However, the opening batsman, who smashed 21 fours and 2 sixes in his innings, was agonisingly dismissed at 199 by Abey Kuruvilla.
Both the matches in the 1997 series were drawn.
3. 189, Coca-Cola Champions Trophy Final, 2000
Jayasuriya produced one of the best ever ODI knocks in the history of the game in the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy final in October 2000.
After winning the toss, captain Jayasuriya decided to put runs on the board. Little did he know, that almost 2/3rd of Sri Lanka’s total will be scored by him.
Wickets kept tumbling around him, but Jayasuriya was watching the ball like football. He was smashing the ball to all parts of the ground.
After the fourth wicket fell, Russel Arnold gave Jayasuriya company and took the score to 282/5 in 48.1 overs.
Sri Lanka eventually scored 299/5 in their 50 overs, with Jayasuriya missed a double century in ODIs by 11 runs.
His score of 189 runs was the second highest individual ODI score at that time.
Sri Lanka bundled out India for 54 runs and won the match by 245 runs. The score is India’s lowest total in ODIs till date.
4. 151, Pepsi Independence Cup, 1997
After India posted 225/7 in their 50 overs in the fourth match of the Pepsi Independence Cup in 1997, Jayasuriya wanted to get it over with in a flash and go back to his hotel room.
He shared a partnership of 138 runs with Atapattu for the second wicket, but thereafter wickets kept falling in regular intervals.
That didn’t deter Jayasuriya. He kept going and going until he took Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory.
The left-hand batsman smashed 17 fours and 4 sixes in his innings of 151 runs (120 balls).
5. 130, Asia Cup, 2004
Another match against India and Jayasuriya was once again taking the bull by it’s horns. The Indian bowlers kept dismissing players at the other end, but the opening batsman had his eyes on the target of 272 runs.
When Sri Lanka were on course for victory at the end of the 47th over (Sri Lanka needed 18 runs from 18 balls), Virender Sehwag got the big fish dismissed – caught and bowled.
Jayasuriya, who scored 130 runs off 132 balls, had done everything right, until he was out to Sehwag.
Sri Lanka eventually lost the match by 4 runs.
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