The first ODI at Dambulla saw a horrendous batting collapse followed by a crushing 9 wicket defeat for Sri Lanka against India. During the 217-run pursuit, the visitors lost only one wicket, that too, the run out of Rohit Sharma, where a single bowler was not able to grab a wicket under his name.
The defeat was one of the biggest for the hosts, especially after reaching 200 in an ODI, a narration that fits the poor run they are currently facing.
Out of 799 ODIs Sri Lanka has played since 1975, they have won 372, lost 386 and tied 5 while 36 have ended without a result. Out of the 386, only 7 has ended in a 9-wicket defeat or worse after batting first and reaching 200 or more in an ODI.
Sri Lanka’s worst defeat after reaching 200
In June 2016, during Sri Lanka’s tour of England, the 2nd ODI saw the home team cruising to a 10 wicket win against Sri Lanka at Birmingham. The tourists made 254/7 in 50 overs. The response was led by openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales. They dismissed bowlers from their presence, striking to all corners of Edgbaston. Roy made 112 off 95 deliveries while Hales vanquished his way to make 133 in 110 balls. They reached the winning target in the 34.1 overs, without losing a wicket. Their domination left the bowlers hapless in every sense. Out of 7 bowlers tried, only Suranga Lakmal was able to concede under 6 runs per over. It was the highest successful run chase in ODI history without losing a single wicket.
Nine wicket defeats after reaching 200
Sri Lanka’s biggest 9 wicket defeat after reaching 200 came during the 3rd final of the VB series against Australia in 2006. At Brisbane, the Australians chased down Sri Lanka’s 266/9 by losing just one wicket in 45.3 overs. The opening stand between Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich amassed 196 before Gilly was rattled by Muttiah Muralitharan for 122. His annihilation came in 90 balls, which included 13 fours and 4 maximums. Later, skipper Ricky Ponting joined Katich, to seal the game with 5 overs to spare. The opener remained unbeaten on 107.
During the Benson & Hedges World Series in 1989, Australia beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets at Perth, after Sri Lanka reaching 203/9. Openers Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor laid the foundation with an 87 run stand and after Taylor was removed by Kapila Wijegunawardene for 37, David Boon joined Marsh to secure the win in the 39th over. They were unbeaten on 80 and 49 respectively. It was the first time Sri Lanka lost by 9 wickets after reaching an ODI score of 200.
In 2003 at the MCG, Australia recorded a 9 wicket against Sri Lanka, chasing down 214 in 34.3 overs, losing a solitary wicket. Ricky Ponting made an unbeaten ton that included 12 boundaries.
At R. Premadasa Stadium in 1994, during the first ODI of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka, the hosts made 200/6 in 50 overs. However, the revised target for Pakistan was 169 in 42 overs, which was reached in 30 overs with 9 wickets to spare.
In the following year at Gujranwala, Sri Lanka made 233/5 which was chased down in 44 overs by Pakistan. The match was best remembered for opener Saleem Elahi becoming the youngest debutant to score an ODI century (18y 312d). He made 102 runs in the pursuit. Interestingly, the youngster’s ODI cap for Pakistan was 102 as well.
Overall Statistics
| Opponent | Total by Sri Lanka | Target Reached | Margin of Defeat | Date | Venue |
| England | 254/7 | 256/0 | By 10 wickets (95 balls remaining) | 24th June 2016 | Edgbaston |
| Australia | 203/9 | 204/1 | By 9 wickets (55 balls remaining) | 30th December 1989 | Perth |
| Pakistan | 200/6 | 169/1 (revised) | By 9 wickets (70 balls remaining) | 3rd August 1994 | RPS |
| Pakistan | 233/5 | 234/1 | By 9 wickets (36 balls remaining) | 29th September 1995 | Gujranwala |
| Australia | 214/8 | 215/1 | By 9 wickets (93 balls remaining) | 21st January 2003 | MCG |
| Australia | 266/9 | 267/1 | By 9 wickets (27 balls remaining) | 14th February 2006 | Brisbane |
| India | 216 | 220/1 | By 9 wickets (127 balls remaining) | 20th August 2017 | Dambulla |
