After a month’s break, cricket is back for the Sri Lankan fans. Beginning from this week, the Lions will be on tour in Zimbabwe, which kicks off with a 2-match Test series at Harare. Sri Lanka will be playing Zimbabwe in a Test match after 12 long years.
Since 1994
The first ever Test match between the two sides took place in Harare in 1994. The rain affected match resulted in a tame draw. The inaugural Test saw Asanka Gurusinha scoring the 3rd slowest century in Test history which took 535 minutes and 405 balls. Arjuna Ranatunga joined in with 118, his maiden Test century.
The first win for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe came in 1996 at the RPS. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 349 while in reply, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 145 and 127 following on. Jayantha Silva and Chaminda Vaas shared 7 wickets between them in the first essay. Muralitharan’s wizardry saw him take 5 for 33 in the second innings while Silva braced in again with 4 for 25, sealing an innings and 77 run win for the Sri Lankans. Arjuna Ranatunga was adjudged Man of the Match for his valiant 75, made when the home team was in trouble on 128/5.
Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka Head to Head Test record –
- Played – 15
- Sri Lanka – 10
- Zimbabwe – 0
- Drawn – 5
Recap of the most recent encounter
The two teams haven’t engaged in a Test encounter for 12 years. The last Test match was a part of Sri Lanka’s tour to Zimbabwe in 2004. Sri Lanka won the series 2-0, recording mammoth wins at Harare and Bulawayo.
At Harare, Tatenda Taibu became the youngest ever captain in Test cricket (20y 358d) while Muralitharan broke Courtney Walsh’s record for most Test wickets claiming Mluleki Nkala as his 520th victim.
In the second Test, Sri Lanka stockpiled 713/3 which included a marathon 270 by Kumar Sangakkara, 249 by Marvan Atapattu and an unbeaten century by Mahela Jayawardene. A few days after the heavy defeat by an innings and 240 runs at Harare, records were renewed again as Zimbabwe was handed over their worst defeat in history at Bulawayo as they went down by an innings and 254 runs.
Harare Sports Club
The most famous venue in the country, Harare Sports Club hosted Zimbabwe’s first Test in 1992 against India.
Zimbabwe has played 32 matches, winning 8 and losing 16 while 8 have ended without a result.
Batting Records
- Most runs – Marvan Atapattu (1145 runs in 15 innings) (Avg. 95.41)
- Most runs for Zimbabwe – Andy Flower (778 runs in 23 innings) (Avg. 38.90)
- Most runs in Zimbabwe – Marvan Atapattu (684 runs in 7 innings) (Avg. 114.00)
- Most runs for Zimbabwe (in Zim) – Andy flower (474 runs in 9 innings) (Avg. 67.71)
- Highest individual score – Kumar Sangakkara (270 at Bulawayo, 2004)
- Highest individual score for Zimbabwe – Dave Houghton (266 at Bulawayo, 1994)
Bowling Records
Most wickets – Muttiah Muralitharan (87 wickets in 26 innings) (Avg. 16.86)
Most wickets for Zimbabwe – Heath Streak (33 wickets in 14 innings) (Avg. 26.45)
Most wickets in Zimbabwe – Chaminda Vaas (30 wickets in 13 innings) (Avg. 24.63)
Best bowling – Muttiah Muralitharan (9 for 51 at Kandy, 2002)
Best bowling in Zimbabwe – Ravindra Pushpakumara (7 for 116 at Harare, 1994)
