Internet Desk: Two crucial half centuries from Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne helped Sri Lanka to chase highest runs in Asia and the fifth highest successful chase in Test history as they clinched a remarkable 4-wicket victory over Zimbabwe ahead of the much anticipated India tour.
Chasing a big target of 388 runs, the hosts were reduced to 203 for five before Dickwella and Gunaratne held the innings together to add crucial 121 runs to help their team to narrow the gap.
Dickwella was out for 81 while Gunaratne, who was suffering from a hamstring injury, remained 80 not out.
Surprisingly this was only the third-highest fourth innings total without a ton in the history of Test cricket. Before Sri Lanka only Indian cricket team (445 against Australia at Adelaide in 1978) and New Zealand (431 against England at Napier in 2008) scored more than 391 and none of their players had scored any century.
Most importantly this was only the ninth time that a team has chased over 300 runs in a Test match in Asia. This victory is also the highest successful run chase in Sri Lanka, beating Pakistan’s record that was set in 2015 when they chased down a target of 382 with consummate ease.