5 memorable India and Sri Lanka Encounters in Tests

#5 3rd Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Aug 29-Sep 2, 2001

Australia v Sri Lanka: 3rd Test, Day 4

It was the third Test between India and Sri Lanka of the 2001 series. Sri Lanka were on a roll and India were under immense pressure to make a comeback into the series. However, it only added to their woes.

Sadagoppan Ramesh (46) and Shiv Sunder Das (59) got India off to a good start with an opening partnership of 97 runs in the first innings. However, Muttiah Muralitharan came on to bowl and ran through the Indian batting line-up with a spell of 8/87. India were all out for 234 runs.

Sri Lanka posted a huge total of 610/6d on the board courtesy of centuries from Marvan Atapattu (108), Mahela Jayawardene (139), Hasan Tilakaratne (136) and Thilan Samaraweera (103) in their first innings. The match already looked in Sri Lanka’s favour as they had a lead of 376 runs.

Ramesh (55) and Das (68) once again raised India’s hopes of saving the match with an opening stand of 107 runs. However, once they departed, the story was the same once again. India were eventually bowled out for 299 runs as Sri Lanka won by an innings and 77 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan was declared the ‘Player of the match’ for his match figures of 11/196.