Stats: Highest Targets Chased In 4th Innings In India vs Sri Lanka Test Matches
IND vs SL: India is set to take on Sri Lanka for a 2-match test series commencing 4th March at Mohali. India already whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in the T20I series and would be looking to continue their winning run under the new full-time red-ball captain, Rohit Sharma.
Chasing down a target in the 4th innings, especially in the Indian sub-continent. To add to the woes of batters in the 4th innings, the subcontinent teams more often than not have spinners that exploit the subcontinent conditions to an extent to trouble the batters.
Top 5 Highest Targets Chased In 4th Innings In India vs Sri Lanka test matches.
#5. Sri Lanka (6/0, Galle 2001)
The team batting in the 4th innings has only won five matches between India and Sri Lanka, and so, the latter's 6/0 ranks at #5 on this list. In the 1st test at Galle in 2017, India were restricted to 187 in the first innings after being asked to bat first. Sri Lanka in reply managed 362 runs, asserting a lead of 175 runs. India were restricted to 180 runs in the third innings, and Sri Lanka won the match by scoring 6 runs in the fourth innings.
#4. Sri Lanka (96/0, Galle 2010)
In the first test at Galle, Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 520/8 after opting to bat first. Team India were then restricted to 276 in the second innings, conceding a lead of 244 runs, and the hosts enforced the follow-on. India managed 338 runs on the board after coming out to bat again and set a target of 95 for Sri Lanka to win the match. The Lankans scored 96 runs without losing a wicket and won the match by 10 wickets.
#3. Sri Lanka (123/2, Colombo (PSS) 2008)
The third test at Colombo (PSS) in 2008 witnessed yet another successful 4th innings run chase by the Sri Lankans at home. India were halted at 249 in the first inning after opting to bat first. Sri Lanka in reply posted 396 in the second innings and maintained a lead of 147 runs. India then managed 268 runs in the third innings and set a target of 121 runs for Sri Lanka to win the match. The hosts scored 123/2 in the fourth innings and ended up winning the match by 8 wickets.
#2. India (258/5, Colombo (PSS) 2010)
Finally, team India's entry in this list; in the 3rd test at Colombo PSS in 2010, Sri Lanka posted 425 in the first innings after opting to bat first. Indians didn't back off and posted 436 in the second inning, asserting a lead of 11 runs. Sri Lanka then scored 267 runs in the third innings as they set a target of 257 for the Indians to win the match. After a few early hiccups in the 4th innings, VVS Laxman played a crucial knock of 103* runs at #6, and helped India win the match by 5 wickets.
#1. India (264/3, Kandy 2001)
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Team India occupies the first spot on this list as well. In the 2nd test at Kandy in 2001, Sri Lanka managed 274 runs on the board in the first innings after being asked to bat first. Team India however, had an even worse start as they were restricted to 232 runs in the second inning, conceding a lead of 42 runs. Sri Lankans scored 221 runs after they came out to bat in the third innings, and set a target of 264 for the tourists to win the match. In the 4th innings, Rahul Dravid scored 75 runs while captain Sourav Ganguly scored an unbeaten 98 which helped Team India win the match by 7 wickets, and also achieve the highest run chase in India vs Sri Lanka test matches.