5 worst defeats for Sri Lanka in ODIs

S Sam
6th NatWest Series ODI  India v Sri Lanka
Ajit Agarkar

After the initial years as an international team that saw them struggle for recognition, Sri Lanka eventually became one of the greatest ODI sides in the world and went on to dominate this particular format of the game for more than a decade.

Ever since they won the World Cup in 1996, they became one of the biggest forces in world cricket and went on to play two more finals of the World Cup.

That being said, like any other proud cricketing nation, Sri Lanka have not been able to avoid crushing and embarrassing defeats over the course of their existence.

While it is great to have a look at some of the best wins recorded by a great cricketing nation, it is always interesting to go through some of the more inglorious defeats suffered by it.

So here is a look at 5 of those defeats that Sri Lanka would definitely like to forget but the rest of the cricketing world won’t for a long time.


#5 81 run loss to India at Sharjah, 1998

In the late 1990s, Sri Lanka used to dominate India in ODI cricket and considering the fact that they were the world champions at the time, it was not much of a surprise. In the tri-series at Sharjah back in 1998, India did well against their sub-continental rivals and in the 2nd game against Sri Lanka, they handed the world champions an embarrassing defeat.

On a difficult pitch, India’s batsmen struggled after having been put in to bat first and it took a patient 64 from Ajay Jadeja for them to reach a score of 179 all out in 49.5 overs.

Still, it was a target that Sri Lanka were expected to overhaul with ease and avenge their loss to India in the 1st game of the tournament.

However, things started going wrong from the outset as Javagal Srinath dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya off the 2nd ball of the 1st over and in the next over, Ajit Agarkar trapped Avishka Gunawardene leg before.

Only Aravinda de Silva resisted the slide for a bit and scored 29, but the Indian spinners Sunil Joshi and Anil Kumble bowled brilliant spells to keep Sri Lanka in check. They slumped to 21 for 4 and then 47 for 6, before being all out for 93 in 39 overs.

#4 10 wicket loss to New Zealand at Christchurch, 2015

New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Game 5
Matt Henry

After losing the 1st match of the 5 match series in New Zealand, Sri Lanka slumped to another shocking defeat in the very next game played at Hagley Oval and it remains one of their most embarrassing losses in history.

They won the toss and chose to bat first, but delivered a shambolic performance that would be remembered for a long time. Dilshan was the 1st to go in the 4th over with the score on 20 and soon the Kiwi fast bowlers led by Matt Henry ran riot to reduce Sri Lanka to 56 for 5 in the 15th over.

No one really got going and was able to resist the New Zealand bowlers. Sri Lanka were all out for 117 in 27.4 overs as Matt Henry ended with figures of 4 for 33 in 9.4 overs.

There were no demons in the pitch and New Zealand’s stinging response during the chose showed the ineptness of the Sri Lankan players. Martin Guptill and Tom Latham went hammer and tongs at the bowlers to chase down the score in only 8.2 overs. Guptill made 93 in only 30 balls and made a mockery of the Sri Lankans.

#3 10 wicket loss to England at Manchester, 2014

England v Sri Lanka - 1st NatWest T20 International
Chris Jordan

The 5 match ODI series in England was nicely poised at 1-1 after two games when the two teams arrived in Manchester for the 3rd game and instead of delivering a closely fought game; it turned out to be a one-sided game for the ages.

England inserted Sri Lanka to bat first and the decision proved to be absolutely spot on as the visitors crumbled in embarrassing fashion. James Anderson sent back the openers Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne within the 1st overs and then all-rounder Chris Jordan ran riot.

From 13 for 2, there were soon reduced to 58 for 5 and then lost the last 5 wickets for the addition of only 9 runs, to be all out for an appalling 67 in 24 overs. Jordan ended with dream figures of 5 for 29 in 8 overs and later on, England knocked off the target in 12.1 overs without any loss of wickets.

#2 217 run loss to Pakistan in Sharjah Cup Final in 2002, Sharjah

New Zealand v Pakistan: Group A - 2011 ICC World Cup
Shoaib Akhtar

This was another of those forgettable defeats that Sri Lanka suffered against a sub-continental rival and considering the fact that the horror show came in a final, makes it all the more embarrassing.

Pakistan chose to bat first and through a pair of 60s from Imran Nazi and Younis Khan, in addition to a superb 129 (131 balls) from Mohammad Yusuf, they made an imposing 295 for 6. Needless to say, it was a tough chase and particularly so against a Pakistan bowling attack consisting of the likes of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis.

However, at the same time, Sri Lanka had an excellent batting line up and they were expected to have a fair crack at it. Akram removed opener Marvan Atapattu in the 5th over but then Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara settled down to take the score to 52 for 1 in the 10th over.

That was when Akhtar struck by having Jayasuriya caught and bowled and the slide started. Pinch-hitter Chaminda Vaas was removed by Akram and from 52 for 1, Sri Lanka slid to 57 for 5. The embarrassment was over in the 17th over as they were finally dismissed for 78 and suffered a massive 217 runs loss.

#1 258 run loss to South Africa at Paarl, 2012

South Africa v Sri Lanka - 1st ODI
Hashim Amla brings up his century

Around a year earlier, Sri Lanka had played in the World Cup final but if anyone saw them play South Africa in the 1st game of the 5 match ODI series at Paarl, no one would have believed that.

South Africa chose to bat first and opening batsman Hashim Amla put the Sri Lankan bowlers to the sword to score an excellent 112. A quick 73 from Jacques Kallis and a whirlwind 52 from AB de Villiers saw South Africa end up with 301 for 8 in their 50 overs.

The presence of such high caliber players like Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, T Dilshan and Angelo Matthews in the batting line-up meant that the match was not completely over by any means.

However, once the chase started, Sri Lanka were blown away and lost half their side in 5 overs. Morne Morkel and L Tsotsobe reduced them to 9 for 5 in 5 overs and from then on it was a matter of time. Three out of the top 6 scored ducks and Sri Lanka were shot out for only 43 in the 21st over.

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Edited by Manish Pathak