 Happy B'day, Sanath Jayasuriya – Recalling His Top Five Innings Across Cricket Formats.webp)
Jayasuriya launched an unyielding attack from the beginning; he blasted 134 runs off a mere 65 balls during the opening match of the 1996 Singer Cup against Pakistan (ODI)
Batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who celebrates his 55th birthday today, was born on June 30. The former Sri Lankan captain is considered one of the most incredible ODI batters ever. Throughout 110 Tests and 445 ODIs, Jayasuriya accumulated an impressive 6,973 and 13,430 runs, respectively. In addition to his batting prowess, Jayasuriya was a highly effective left-arm spinner known for his difficult-to-score-off deliveries. He claimed 98 wickets in Tests and 323 in ODIs, including a five-wicket haul, placing him 9th among the all-time highest wicket-takers in ODIs.
Let us recall his top performances.
Credit: ESPN cricinfo
Jayasuriya Hails His 340 in Record 576-Run Stand with Mahanama as His Best Test Innings
In the first Test of India's tour of Sri Lanka in 1997, Jayasuriya delivered a historic performance. Responding to India's imposing first-innings total of 537, Sri Lanka countered with a record-breaking batting display at Colombo. Jayasuriya led the charge, scoring a monumental 340 runs, which played a crucial role in Sri Lanka setting the highest Test score ever recorded—an astounding 952 runs. This extraordinary effort resulted in the match ending in a draw. During this remarkable innings, Jayasuriya also formed the then-highest Test partnership of 576 runs with Roshan Mahanama.
Credit: Island Cricket
Sanath Jayasuriya is on his way to a triple century.
Jayasuriya showcased his exceptional ability to dominate across formats and conditions in the 1st Test of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan in 2004. On a challenging pitch in Faisalabad, Jayasuriya's magnificent hand-eye coordination allowed him to compile a brilliant 253 runs in the second inning. This resilient knock enabled Sri Lanka to post a formidable 438 runs. His innings, featuring 33 boundaries and four sixes, left the Pakistani bowlers struggling to contain his aggressive approach. Jayasuriya's performance was pivotal in steering Sri Lanka to a commanding victory by 201 runs.
Jayasuriya's highest ODI score came against India, showcasing his penchant for thriving against the Indian bowlers. In this match, he single-handedly took down India, delivering a masterful 189 off just 161 balls. Opening the innings, he scored 189 out of Sri Lanka's total of 299, including a stunning 21 fours and four sixes, contributing 108 runs in boundaries alone. His innings were so dominant that India couldn't recover, losing by a massive margin of 245 runs.
Jayasuriya launched an unyielding attack from the beginning. He blasted 134 runs off a mere 65 balls during the opening match of the 1996 Singer Cup against Pakistan (ODI). Jayasuriya's aggressive innings were exceptional on a pitch where other players found turning their starts into significant scores challenging. His explosive performance enabled Sri Lanka to post 350 runs, paving the way for a 34-run triumph over Pakistan.
In a thrilling T20 encounter against New Zealand, Jayasuriya again showcased his flair for the format with a blistering innings of 51 not out from just 23 deliveries. Sri Lanka, chasing 162 in 20 overs under looming rain clouds in Wellington, relied heavily on Jayasuriya's explosive batting. He smashed ten boundaries and cleared the boundary ropes once, propelling Sri Lanka to 62/1 in 5.5 overs before rain intervened. Ultimately, Sri Lanka clinched victory by 18 runs via the D/L method, with Jayasuriya's innings being one of his finest in T20 cricket.
