Top 5 batsmen with most runs in a three-match Test series

#2 Brian Lara (688 runs)

Brian Lara

West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka in 2001-02 can easily be termed as Brian Lara vs Sri Lanka. Despite the left-hander amassing 688 runs from six innings, with three hundreds and a fifty, at an impressive average of 114.67, the hosts still whitewashed the Windies 3-0.

The first Test was played at Galle from November 13-17. West Indies batted first, and Lara’s 178 from 294 balls took them to 448. Sri Lanka responded with 590 for 9, with hundreds from Kumar Sangakkara and Hashan Tillakaratne, and 99 from Mahela Jayawardene. Lara was dismissed for 40 in the second innings as West Indies managed only 144.

In the second Test at Kandy, played from November 21-25, Lara’s 74 was the only innings of note as West Indies managed only 191 in response to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 288. Murali and Chaminda Vaas both claimed four-fors. Marvan Atapattu’s 84 enabled Sri Lanka to declare their second innings at 224 for 6. Lara fell for 45 in West Indies’ second innings as the visitors folded up for 190, chasing 322. Murali again worked his magic with 6 for 81.

Despite a magnificent 221 from Lara in the final Test at Colombo, held from November 29-December 3, Sri Lanka whitewashed West Indies 3-0. Lara’s double hundred featured 23 fours and 2 sixes, but West Indies managed 390 batting first, with Vaas claiming 7 for 120. Tillakaratne led the hosts’ response with an unbeaten 204 as Sri Lanka declared on 627 for 9. Lara slammed 130 from 215 in Windies’ second innings, but Vaas again claimed seven wickets as West Indies were kept down to 262. Sri Lanka chased down 26 to complete the series win.