In their short history of international Cricket Srilanka has recorded some remarkable performances. Out of which the most significant been their convincing victory in the 6th World cup held in 1996. Just a season later they also broke the word record for highest innings total erasing the 59 years old record held by the mother country since 1938. While establishing the new record for highest innings total in the process Sri Lankans also set a new world record for highest partnership for any wicket in test cricket. Following are the highlights of that memorable test played at R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo in 1997:

Highlights

The previous record of highest innings total in all Test Cricket was created by England against Australia when WalterHammond's team compiled mammoth 903 for 7 wicket declared in 15 hours and 17 minutes at Kinnington Oval in 1938. 59-years later until Srilanka surpassed this monumental score no other team had even crossed the 800 mark in between or even later. But in comparison Srilanka achieved the record in different circumstances. In England's case England had batted first in the timeless test but at Colombo Srilanka was under considerable pressure after Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and electing to bat India had amassed 537 for 8 wicket declared in 167.3 overs almost consuming the first two days and by the end of second day they had succeeded to remove opener Marvin Attapatu for 26 with Sri Lanka's score of 39 for 1; but thereafter the next two days entirely belonged to Sanathjayasuriya and Rohshan Mahnama who batted themselves into the record books. The pair added 576 runs to establish a new First Class record for the second wicket and also improved the previous highest Test Cricket record of 451 for the same wicket held by the great. Australian Bill Ponsford (266) and Sir Donald George Bradman (244) against England at the oval in 1934. The pair also subsequently erased the previous highest partnership record for all wickets-467 put on for Newzealand for the third wicket by Andrew Jones (186) Martin Crowe (299) against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1990-91. On the start of the fifth day the pair needed just 30 runs to break the highest partnership record in all fist class cricket-577 held by Vijay Hazare (288) and Gul Mahomed (319) for Baroda versus Holkar at Baroda in 1946-47 (Incidentally Gul Mahomed had also appeared in one test match for Pakistan against Australia at Karachi in 1956-57) Unfortunately the partnership was broken just two runs before the new record could be created. It was trajic that both the Sri Lankan heroes departed the scene one after the other at the same score. Roshan Mahnama Scored 225 and Sanathjayasuriya (340) become only the 13th player in Test Cricket history to score a triple century. He also over took Hanif Mohammad's sub continent's record of highest individual score of 337 made against the West Indies in 1957 - 58 Jayasuriya departed at 615 for 3 but Srilankans further continued to masscare the Indian bowling. Srilanka's highest scorer of centuries Arvindadesilva scored his 12th Test Century, Skipper Arjuna Ranatuga scored 86 and Maleha Jayawardene made 66. This enabled Sri Lanka not only to cross the land mark of 903 set by England in 1938 but also to improve it with a new highest over Test total of 952 for 6 - an achievement which the Srilankanas and the entire World of Cricket Should be hightly proud of.

Notes

Srilanka's record score of 952 for 6 is the third highest first class total after 1107 by Vicoria new South Wales in 1928-27 and 1059 also by Victoria V/S Tasmania in 1922-23. The 576 runs partnership between S.T.Jaysuriya and R.S.Mahanama was the 6th instance of partnership yielding 500 or more runs in first class cricket. Yet it was first such instance in test cricket and the 4th over 450 runs and only the 8th of over 400 runs. S.T.Jauysuriya and R.S.Mahanama put up 283 runs in the third day and 265 runs on the fourth emulating and improving the previous record set by the great West Indians Sir F.M.Worrell and Sir Garfield Sobers at Bridge town against England in 1959-60 (165 and 207 runs on the fourth and fifth days.)

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