Aussie run chase must rewrite SSC history

Sri Lanka have already racked up a big 288-run lead in the third Test in Colombo, and are poised to bat on to begin day five today. With Australia to bat last, it will take something special to complete a consolation victory that would help Steve Smith's men maintain their world No.1 ranking.

Australia has won two of their previous four matches at the venue; by 16 runs in 1992 when Greg Mathews (4-76) and Shane Warne (3-11) spun the Aussies to victory, and by 121 runs in 2004 thanks largely to current coach Darren Lehmann's first-innings 153 and fourth-innings 3-42.

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But there has been just eight successful fourth-innings run-chases at the Sinhalese Sports Club from 40 previous completed Tests at the venue, six of them by the home side and only one has been achieved by a non-Asian team.

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, 1998
SL scored 326 to defeat Zim by 5 wickets

The great Aravinda de Silva thumped an unbeaten 143 as Sri Lanka overcame a first-innings deficit to topple Zimbabwe by five wickets in 1997-98. Chasing an imposing 326 for victory, the home side was 2-10 and then looked gone when it fell to 5-137. But de Silva  and captain Arjuna Ranatunga (87*) combined for an unbroken 189-run partnership to secure the win in the second Test. Sri Lanka won the series 2-0, with de Silva named man of the match.

Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2005
SL scored 172 to defeat WI by 6 wickets

Muthiah Muralidaran and Chaminda Vaas combined for 10 second-innings wickets to set up Sri Lanka’s six-wicket triumph over the West Indies in the opening Test of the 2005 series. Sri Lanka was 58 runs in arrears after the first innings before rolling the visiting side for 113. Sri Lanka experienced early turbulence in their run chase, slipping to 3-49, before Thilan Samaraweera (51), Mahela Jayawardena (41 not out) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (27 not out) played crucial hands to lead their team to 4-172.

Sri Lanka v England, 1993
SL scored 142 to defeat ENG by five wickets

A first-innings run feast laid the platform for Sri Lanka’s five-wicket win over England in the one-off Test in March 1993. Five of Sri Lanka’s top six batsmen plundered half-centuries in the first innings to give their team an 89-run advantage. England mustered 228 in its second dig, leaving the home side with a tricky run chase. England appeared a chance to complete an upset victory when they reduced Sri Lanka to 4-61, but Hashan Tillakaratne (36 not out) and Arjuna Ranatunga (35) steered them home as they finished 5-142, the match ending memorably as Sanath Jayasuriya pulled his first ball for six to complete the win.

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2000
PAK scored 131 to defeat SL by five wickets

Pakistan recorded a thrilling away victory in the first Test of their 2000 series against Sri Lanka. Wasim Akram piloted the success with a five-wicket haul in the second innings as Sri Lanka was blasted out for just 123. Pakistan had few worries during their run chase, reaching 5-131, with a young Younis Khan compiling an unbeaten 32 and opener Mohammad Wasim 30.

Others

England scored 74 to defeat Sri Lanka by four wickets in 2001

Sri Lanka scored 70 to defeat New Zealand by nine wickets in 1992

Sri Lanka scored 27 to defeat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in 1996

Sri Lanka scored 26 to defeat West Indies by 10 wickets in 2001