E-Paper
Sri Lankan juggernaut stopped rolling, finally!
It was for the first time in six matches (in which they got a chance to bat) Sri Lanka failed to score 300, writes Rajneesh Gupta.
Sri Lanka managed to score 285 for seven against Zimbabwe in the third qualifying match of ICC Champions Trophy – not a small total by any means. But surely a total less than what everyone had thought Sri Lanka would end up with. Can you believe that it was for the first time in six matches (in which they got a chance to bat) Sri Lanka failed to score 300! Pakistan and Australia have also been quite successful in scoring 300-plus totals in consecutive matches. But they are nowhere near what Sri Lanka has achieved. Leave aside the question of putting on a total of 300 or more in five consecutive matches, no other side has managed to do so in four games in a row. The best sequence for either of these sides lasted for just three consecutive games.
The sequence for Sri Lanka started with the match against England at Old Trafford in June this year, when Sri Lanka after posting 318-7 restricted England to 285 to earn a 33-run victory. In the following match at Headingley England made a healthy total of 321-7, but Sri Lanka chased it down in less than 40 overs taking the series 5-0. This was followed by a two-match series against Netherlands and hapless Dutch bowlers were unable to contain Sri Lankan batsmen. In the first match Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 443-9 and followed it up with 313-8. The opening encounter of ICC Champions Trophy against Bangladesh gave Sri Lanka fifth such instance.
The details of Sri Lanka’s five consecutive totals of 300-plus:
Note: In between Sri Lanka played a match against India without getting a chance to bat
Teams posting 300-plus totals in most consecutive games:
