On the 6 August 1997, Sri Lanka posted a world record score of 952 runs, in 271 overs, for the loss of 6 wickets, in the first Test Match of a two match series against India in Colombo.

India won the toss and elected to bat first on a submissive pitch, declaring just before the end of the second day on 537 for 8 after 167.3 overs. With centuries coming from Navjot Sidhu [111], Mohammad Azharuddin [126], and Sachin Tendulkar [143].

Before Sri Lanka began its world record reply, India’s captain Tendulkar promised his bowlers would ‘attack for three days’. Left-arm spinner, Nilesh Kulkarni, dutifully obliged by claiming the wicket of Marvan Atapattu in the last over of the day with just 39 runs on the board, becoming only the 12th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in a Test match.

Team-mates from Colombo’s Bloomfield club, batted throughout the third day, in a partnership of 576, the longest stand in Test history, with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring 340 and Roshan Mahanama contributing 225. Only three players have made higher scores than Jayasuriya in Test matches, Brian Lara [375], Garry Sobers [365 not out], and Len Hutton [364].

Aravinda de Silva made his 12th Test century [126], and the Arjuna Ranatunga became the first Sri Lankan to pass 4,000 Test runs with his score of 86 before being run out.

With all prospect of a result long gone, a score of 1,000 seemed a possibility, but as there was no chance of a result a halt was called with just 7 of the last 20 overs bowled, and the match declared a draw.

6 August, 2019