5 Biggest Margin Defeats For Sri Lanka in Test [Source: AP Photo]
Sri Lanka cricket has been a dominant Asian side, especially in Test cricket. They have produced some of the greatest superstars such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and many more, who went on to script historic records.
However, their Test cricket history has been equally marred by shameful losses. The team has often struggled against quality opponents, including Australia and India.
Among these setbacks, losses by an inning remain particularly disheartening as they highlight comprehensive dominance by the opposition.
On that note, here's a list of the five biggest margin defeats endured by Sri Lanka in their Test cricket history.
5. Inning and 222 runs loss vs India at Mohali, 2022
Team India hosted Sri Lanka in a Test match at Mohali in March 2022. Ravindra Jadeja starred in the first innings with a stunning 175 off 228 balls. Rishabh Pant’s 96 helped India declare the first inning at 574/8.
Jadeja extended his dominance with the bowl with a sensational five-wicket-haul in the second innings, bowling out Sri Lanka for 174. As India enforced follow-on, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja exploited the spin-friendly wicket once again to bowl out Lanka for 178 runs. Sri Lanka suffered a humiliating inning and 222 runs defeat, scripting an unwanted record.
4. Innings and 222 runs vs Pakistan at Colombo, 2023
In 2023, Sri Lanka faced a crushing defeat against Pakistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. The Pakistani side, led by Babar Azam, bowled out Sri Lanka on 166 with Abrar Ahmed picking a four-wicket-haul.
In response, Abdullah Shafique played his career-best knock to slam a double hundred. Salman Agha’s 132 off 154 balls allowed Pakistan to declare at 576. With the stage set, Noman Ali wreaked havoc in the third inning. He scalped a seven-wicket-haul to bowl out Lanka again for a total of 188, thus sealing an inning and 222 run victory for Pakistan.
3. Innings and 229 runs vs South Africa at Cape Town, 2001
South Africa hosted Sri Lanka in the second Test at Cape Town. Shaun Pollock claimed a six-wicket-haul, leaving Sri Lanka stunned at 96/10 in the first inning. Pollock and Ngam made good use of overcast conditions to put the visitors on the back foot. Daryll Cullinan slammed a century in the second inning as South Africa set 504 runs total.
With a mammoth lead in hand, South Africa bulldozed Sri Lanka to 180 runs in the third inning. Nicky Boje picked 4 wickets whereas Mfuneko Ngam contributed with 3 wickets to hand Sri Lanka a humiliating defeat of an inning and 229 runs.
2. Innings and 239 runs vs India at Nagpur, 2017
Sri Lanka toured India in 2017 for a Test series with the second Test scheduled at Nagpur. Ashwin, Jadeja and Ishant Sharma bowled beautiful spells to restrict the visitors to 205 in the first inning. However, Indian batters went berserk in the second inning.
Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rohit Sharma slammed a century each whereas Virat Kohli converted his hundred into a double century. They declared at 610/6 and Sri Lanka succumbed to 166 in the third inning. Ashwin starred once again with four-wicket-haul whereas Ishant, Jadeja and Umesh Yadav picked two wickets each.
1. Innings and 242 runs vs Australia at Galle, 2025
Sri Lanka hosted Australia in a 2-game Test series in 2025. The first Test was held at Galle and the visitors asserted their dominance with a mammoth total of 654 in the first inning. Usman Khawaja hit a double century while Steve Smith and Josh Inglis scored a ton each. Matthew Kuhnemann challenged Sri Lanka in the second inning to claim a five-wicket-haul, restricting the hosts to 165-run total.
The motivated Aussies decided to enforce a follow-on. Despite Jeffrey Vandersay’s half-century, the rest of the lineup crumbled. Nathan Lyon and Kuhnemann picked four wickets each and bowled out Sri Lanka to 247, claiming a dominant inning and 242-run win. This is Sri Lanka’s biggest margin of defeat in Test cricket history.