The first Test match of the three-Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Galle International Stadium from Friday (June 22). This will be the 41st Test match between the two teams and third at this ground. Pakistan have won 16, lost nine and drew 15 in 40 previous encounters against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have a peculiar head-to-head record, with both teams being more successful in away Tests as compared to home matches. Pakistan, however, can take confidence from the fact that they are the team with the most wins against Sri Lanka.
Overall, Pakistan have had the better of Sri Lanka in head-to-head contests, although the majority of these victories came before Sri Lanka established themselves as genuine competitors in Tests. Since 1995, Pakistan won three and lost two Tests in Sri Lanka but failed to match their away performance in home Tests. Sri Lanka won six Tests in Pakistan in the same period. In the last series played between the two teams in 2009, Sri Lanka won the three-Test contest 2-0 after Pakistan’s batting collapsed in the first two Tests.
Sri Lanka have won three-match series 2-0 against in the last series series played in Sri Lanka in July 2009 while Pakistan recorded a 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in the last series played between the two teams in United Arab Emirates last year.
Test encounters
Venue M Pak won S.L won Draw
In Pakistan 21 8 6 7
In Sri Lanka 15 6 3 6
In Bangladesh 1 1 – –
In Emirates 3 1 – 2
Total 40 16 9 15
HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS: Pakistan’s 765 for six declared at Karachi in 2008-09 is their highest ever total against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s highest against Pakistan, 644 for seven declared also came in this Test match.
LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS: Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 71 runs at Kandy in 1994 which is their lowest ever total against Pakistan. Pakistan’s lowest against Sri Lanka is 90 which was made at Colombo in July 2009.
HIGHEST MATCH AGGREGATE: As many as 1553 runs were scored for the loss of 18 wickets at Karachi in 2008-09 which is the highest match aggregate between the two teams. The highest match aggregate recorded in Sri Lanka is 1348 runs for the loss of 33 wickets at Colombo in July 2009.
LOWEST MATCH AGGREGATE: The lowest match aggregate between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was recorded at Kandy in 1985-86 when 440 runs were scored for the loss of 29 wickets. As many as 716 runs were scored for the loss of 32 wickets at Sialkot in 1985-86 which is the lowest match aggregate between the two teams on Pakistani soil.
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES: The highest individual score by a Pakistani batsman in any Test against Sri Lanka is held by Younis Khan who made 313 at Karachi in 2008-09. Sanath Jayasuriya who made 253 at Faisalabad in 2004-05 holds the record of highest individual score for Sri Lanka against Pakistan.
BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS: Imran Khan’s eight for 58 at Lahore in 1981-82 is the best bowling performance in an innings for Pakistan against Sri Lanka. The record of best bowling performance for Sri Lanka is held by Ravi Ratnayaka who took eight wickets for 83 runs at Sialkot in 1985-86.
BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH: The distinction of recording the best bowling in a match on either side is belong to Imran Khan who took 14 wickets for 116 runs at Lahore in 1981-82. The best match aggregate by a Sri Lankan bowler against Pakistan is Muttiah Muralitharan’s 10 for 148 at Peshawar in 1999-2000.
