Year in Review: Top 5 Test performances of 2013

4. Rangana Herath’s 12/157 vs Bangladesh (Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, 2^nd Test, Colombo)

Bangladesh were bulldozed out of the match that was essentially a one-man show. Herath did get assistance from a pitch that was good for spin bowling, but he produced something that was extraordinary and required his skill as a bowler and his experience as a veteran. His first victim was Mahmudullah, who he got caught at slip for 8.

Next to go was Mushfiqur Rahim, who exposed his off-stump to the ball. The dangerous looking Mominul Haque was removed in his very next over, who played well for his 64. The Bangladeshis who were proceeding decently at 128/3 were reduced to 240 all out, as all hopes of a big score went with the wickets that fell once Herath started his rampage. He ended the innings with 5 wickets for 68.

Bangladesh might have worked out a plan to face him with more circumspectly in the next innings. But that somehow didn’t work out- either their plans failed or Herath was too good. Or both. He took 7 this time as if the 1st innings was a trailer of what was to come.

These came consecutively for him, as he started from 96/1 and ended at 228/8, cleaning up the opponents for good. Herath disturbed the wood-work of the batsmen in 3 instances out of these, which shows how difficult he was to pick up. He bowled 36 overs which included 9 maidens, and he was able to remove the new as well as settled batsmen with equal ease, as the Bangladeshis tried to figure out a way to play him.

Sri Lanka were given 160 in the final innings to chase, and they did so, winning the series 1-0. Herath was Man of the Match.