Sachin Tendulkar’s Test tons against Sri Lanka : 9. 203 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

Nine Test centuries against Sri Lanka

After Australia (20), most of Sachin Tendulkar’s tons have come against Sri Lanka (12). Here is a detailed list of all Test centuries scored by the Master Blaster against Sri Lanka.

1. 104* vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

July 27, 1993: India were touring Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series.

It was the second match of the series and India scored 366 runs in the first innings after Vinod Kambli scored a brilliant century. The Lankans were bowled out for 254 runs in the first innings In the second innings, Tendulkar scored yet another century that came off 161 balls. His innings comprised of 11 boundaries and a six. India took a lead of 112 runs in the first innings and went on to seal the match.

Result: India won by 235 runs

2. 142 vs Sri Lanka in Lucknow

January 18, 1994: India were hosting a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

In the first Test, opener Navjot Singh Sidhu slammed yet another century and was joined by Tendulkar as these two added 121 runs for the third wicket. Once Sidhu was dismissed by Muralitharan, Tendulkar enthralled the crowd, once again, with an exhibition of well crafted strokes and scored 142 off 224 balls with 22 boundaries.

Result: India won by an innings and 119 runs.

3. 143 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

August 2, 1997: India were now touring Sri Lanka where they were playing a two-match Test series.

On a flat wicket, three Indian batsmen - Sidhu, Tendulkar and Azharuddin scored centuries as India reached a formidable total of 537 runs in the first innings. Tendulkar once again played a captain’s knock and was the highest scorer for India as he scored 143 runs before being dismissed by Muralitharan.

The match is fondly remembered for a mammoth 576-run stand between Jayasuriya (340) and Mahanama (225) for the second wicket.

Result: Match drawn

4. 139 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

August 9, 1997: It was a Test match where batsmen from both the teams scored big knocks and left the bowlers exhausted. Lankans were bundled out for 332 runs in the first innings, and India too were struggling when they lost two quick wickets after which Tendulkar and Ganguly scored centuries and also stitched 150 runs for the fifth wicket. In total, Sachin scored 139 runs in the first innings.

Result: Match drawn

5. 148 vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai

December 3, 1997: It was the third Test of a series being played between India and Sri Lanka. Batting first, India lost two quick wickets post which Dravid and Ganguly brought them back into the game as a result of a century partnership. The third wicket partnership was followed by another record partnership between Ganguly and Tendulkar - of 256 runs for the fourth wicket. Sachin scored his 14th Test ton in front of his local crowd and also reached 4,000 Test runs

Result: Match drawn

6. 124* vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

February 24, 1999: India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were playing in an Asian Test Championship for the first time.

In the second match of the series, Ganguly and Azharuddin slammed tons as India piled a mammoth score of 518 runs. In the second innings, Tendulkar was the only Indian batsman to score a ton as he slammed 124 runs from 308 balls. During his impressive knock, the Little Master also added 139 runs with Ganguly for the third wicket.

Result: Match drawn

7. 109 vs Sri Lanka in Delhi

December 10, 2005: India were playing a Test series against Sri Lanka on home soil. The second Test – Tendulkar’s 125th was memorable for the cricketing fraternity as the Little Master slammed his 35th ton and surpassed Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test centuries.

Batting first, India scored 290 runs in the first innings, Tendulkar alone scoring 109 of them. Sachin and Laxman were involved in a crucial partnership for the third wicket which got India to a respectable score. It was an important knock from Tendulkar as after recovering from his elbow injury, critics wrote a lot against him and the much-awaited ton took some time to come.

Result: India won by 188 runs

8. 100* vs Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad

November 16, 2009: Sri Lanka came to India to play a three-match Test series. In the first innings after India slumped to 32/4, formidable knocks from Dravid (177), Dhoni (110) and Yuvraj (68) bolstered India’s total to 426 runs. In reply, the Lankans gave a fitting reply by putting on 760 runs, courtesy Mahela Jayawardene’s double ton – 275 runs. Sri Lanka took a lead of 324 runs in the first innings.

In reply, India made the best use of flat pitch and openers – Sehwag and Gambhir smashed 81 runs for the first wicket. India were 275/4 at one stage from where Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman put on an unbeaten 137 runs for the fifth wicket to save the Test match. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 100 runs, and he hit 11 boundaries during his stay.

Result: Match drawn

9. 203 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo

July 26, 2010: India toured Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series. In the second Test of the series, the Lankans scored 642 runs batting first as skipper Kumar Sangakkara slammed a double ton (219).

A strong reply came from the Indian batsmen who joined the run-feast. Sehwag missed his ton by one run, but he added 165 runs for the first wicket with Murali Vijay (58). Tendulkar came to bat at number four and entertained the crowd by hitting his fifth double ton in Test matches. India amassed a massive total of 707 runs. His innings comprised of 23 boundaries and a six.

Result: Match drawn