Sri Lanka and Pakistan might not be the most revered
of the rivalries in Test cricket, but both the teams have produced some of the
significant performances and matches to remember over years, today we look at
some of those memorable moments as both the team get ready to lock horns in
what might be another engrossing series
Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played 55 Tests between
themselves in what has been an interesting set of encounters over the years.
The rivalry has not been as enthralling as some of the others existing in the
game, but it has provided much needed entertainment to the spectators.
Today we analyze the previous tours of Pakistan to Sri
Lanka and some of the memorable moments between both the cricket giants.
Sri Lanka vs
Pakistan – Head-to-Head
|
Venue |
Tests |
Pakistan |
Sri Lanka |
Draw |
|
Sri Lanka |
23 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
Pakistan |
23 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
|
Neutral |
9 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Overall |
55 |
20 |
16 |
19 |
A History of Pakistan tours to Sri Lanka
1. Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 1985-86: Tests:
3 Sri Lanka : 1 Pakistan : 1 Draw: 1
This was the first tour of Pakistan to Sri Lanka when
they played Tests with the host. The tourist won the first Test by an innings,
but it was the result of some hapless batting from the home side. Tauseef Ahmed
took 77-9 in the match and rocked the Lankans on what was a turning track.
Sri Lankans however bounced back in the next match as
they won the match by 8 wickets with help of Arjuna Ranatunga’s 77 and debutant
Kosala
Kuruppuarachchi’s 7 wickets. Ravi Ratnayake also took 7 wickets in the match.
Sri Lanka
drew the final Test with rear-guard from their youngsters 19-year-old Asanka
Gurusinha and 21-year-old Arjuna Ranatunga.
 |
| Arjuna Ranatunga batted all day to save the Test and series for Sri Lanka |
2.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 1994-95: Tests: 3 Sri Lanka:
0 Pakistan: 2 Cancelled: 1
The Sri Lankan team ran in to a troubled but rampant
Pakistan team. Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were at the pomp of their career
and destroyed the Lankan batting line up who just couldn’t cope with the two
best pacers of their era. After Saeed
Anwar (94 and 136), Inzamam -ul-Haq (81) have put Pakistan in commanding
position, Wasim Akram (73-8) and Akram Raza (129-6) ensured that Pakistan go
1-0 with a commanding win by 301 runs.
The Second Test was cancelled only few minutes to the
start of the Test due to curfew imposed in the city because of political
unrest.
The Three Test series was hence reduced to 2 Tests,
there was however no respite for Sri Lanka as they were gunned out on the first
morning of the Test for just 71. Waqar
(34-6) and Wasim (32-4) were unplayable on a green pitch. However, Sri Lanka
couldn’t utilize the same as Pakistan made 357-9 with hundred from Inzamam who
was batting at no.7.
In the second innings also, Sri Lanka was all-out for
only 234, a score which was possible only due to Hasan Tilakratne’s 83* and
Ruwan Kalpage’s 62. Waqar took 85-5 and
ended with match figures of 119-11.
 |
| Waqar Younis was lethal at Kandy in 1994 |
3. Pakistan in Sri Lanka in 1996-97: Tests: 2 Sri Lanka: 0 Pakistan: 0 Draw: 0
The third tour of Pakistan to Sri Lanka ended in a dull draw as both the tests ended in draw.
4.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2000-01: Tests: 3 Sri Lanka:
0 Pakistan: 2 Draw: 1
The Three Test match series was completely dominated
by the Pakistan team studded with stars, though most of them were in the
twilight of the careers as the era of probably the greatest Pakistani Test team
(1987-2001) was about to come to an end.
 |
| Wasim Akram was key figure in SL vs Pak encounters in 1990s |
5.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2005-06: Tests: 2
Sri Lanka: 0 Pakistan: 1 Draw: 1
The fighting draw achieved in the first test along
with the genius of Mohammad Asif saw Pakistan winning a series in which they
were mostly behind. History repeated itself at Asgiriya Stadium as Sri Lanka
was once again shot out for a mere 73, this time by Mohammad Asif (11-71) who
was at it menacingly best. Pakistan won the series comfortably by 1-0.
.jpg) |
| Muttiah Murlitharan was impressive |
6.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2009-10: Tests 3 Sri Lanka : 2
Pakistan : 0 Draw : 1
Sri Lanka won their first ever home series against Pakistan.
Surprisingly they have already been very successful in Pakistan winning Tests as
well as the series but have never been able to seal the series at home. This
time also it looked that Pakistan will prevail before they imploded chasing only
168 in the 1st Test as Rangana Herath’s 4-15 spun Sri Lanka to frantic
victory and also resurrecting his stop start career.
In the second Test also after being shot out for only
90 in first innings , the bowler has restricted the Sri Lankan lead to 140 and
with score 285-1, Pakistan had bounced back (135 ahead with 9 wicket in hand)
but then once again in a session of madness lost 35-9 and getting bundled out
for 320. Sri Lanka comfortably chased the target and subsequently won the
series after the Third Test ended in a draw.
7.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2012-13: Tests 3 Sri Lanka : 1
Pakistan : 0 Draw : 2
Sri Lanka won this series comfortably by 1-0 as both
the teams in spite being starting as poles apart ended on unexpected sides.
8.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2014-15: Tests 2 Sri Lanka:
2
Pakistan: 0 Draw: 0
Within span of 5 years, Sri Lanka
registered their third home series victory over Pakistan. While the focus was
on Mahela Jayawardena who was playing his final Test series, it was once again the
same man who tormented Pakistan, Rangana Herath. He took 164-9 in the first
Test spinning the team to victory. In the second match he was at his best.
Picking 127-9 and 57-5 ( 184-14) he ensured that Sri Lanka clean sweep the
series by 2-0.
 |
| Rangana Herath- Torementor in Chief |
9.
Pakistan
in Sri Lanka in 2015-16: Tests 3 Sri Lanka:
1
Pakistan: 2 Draw: 0
In what was a see-saw series, Pakistan prevailed by
chasing a record 377 in the fourth innings of third Test, it also helped them
winning the series by 2-1 and thereby extending their impressive record in Sri
Lanka.
 |
| Younis Khan ensured a historic test and series win in 2015 |
I hope Sri Lanka best performance
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